XL: Formulas in Imported Works File Not Calculated Correctly

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Works for Windows, version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

If you create a spreadsheet in Microsoft Works version 3.0 and save it as a Microsoft Excel 4.0/5.0 worksheet, the worksheet may not be recalculated as expected: dependent formulas are not recalculated as expected and may return the #VALUE! error value, and cells that are dependent on other cells (that is, cells that refer to other cells) may not be recalculated automatically.

NOTE: This problem occurs even when calculation option is set to automatic and there are no circular references.

In addition, Microsoft Works files opened in Microsoft Excel may not contain the correct information for the formula type. For example, although a formula, such as =RAND(), may return a numerical value, you may not be able to use it as an argument of a numerical parameter of a function. Thus, when a cell containing a formula is referred by another cell, it may return an error value such as #NAME.

WORKAROUNDS

To update the formulas in Microsoft Excel, do any of the following:

• After you open the data in a Microsoft Excel worksheet, you can manually edit and update the cells that were not recalculated correctly. To edit the cell, press the F2 key and then press ENTER (without changing the contents of the formula).

  -or-

• To transfer a file from Microsoft Works to Microsoft Excel, save it as a Works for Windows 2.0 spreadsheet or a Lotus WK1 spreadsheet. Currently, you cannot open Microsoft Works 3.0 spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0, 7.0, or 97.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Works version 3.0. This problem has been corrected in Microsoft Works version 3.0a.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q112447
   TITLE     : Works 3.0 File Saved in Excel Format Returns #VALUE!