XL: Functions Are Not Saved in Lotus 1-2-3 Format

 Last reviewed: February 12, 1998
Article ID: Q162762
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you save a workbook in the Lotus 1-2-3 WK3 or WK4 format, you receive one of the following error messages: 

   Microsoft Excel 97
   ------------------

      A formula in cell (Cell: <cell ref>) could not be converted
      because it contains a function that is not available in the
      format to which you are saving. If you continue the save, the
      formula and result will be saved, but the function itself will
      be converted to an error value.
   
      Do you want to see additional errors as they occur so you can
      fix them later?

   Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0
   ---------------------------

      Cannot write record. (Cell: <cell ref>)

   where <cell ref> is a worksheet cell reference.
When you open the file you saved in the Lotus 1-2-3 format, the cell that previously contained a formula contains only the value that appeared when you saved the workbook.

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

   Article-ID: Q123261
   TITLE     : XL: Formulas Failed to Convert Error Opening WK4 File

   Article-ID: Q111981
   TITLE     : XL: Functions Not Saved to Quattro Pro File Format

CAUSE

This problem occurs if your workbook contains any of the following Microsoft Excel worksheet functions: 

   AREAS
   DOLLAR
   DPRODUCT
   FACT
   FREQUENCY
   GETPIVOTDATA
   GROWTH
   HYPERLINK
   IPMT
   ISBLANK
   ISERROR
   ISLOGICAL
   LINEST
   LOGEST
   LOOKUP
   MATCH
   MDETERM
   MINVERSE
   MIRR
   MMULT
   PPMT
   PRODUCT
   SEARCH
   SUBSTITUTE
   TEXT
   TRANSPOSE
   TREND
   TYPE
   WEEKDAY

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem, and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

Microsoft Excel 97

For more information about Lotus 1-2-3, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text 

   lotus 1-2-3, converting files
and then double-click the selected text to go to the "View or save files from other programs as Microsoft Excel workbooks" topic.

Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0

For more information about opening Lotus 1-2-3 files in Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0, click the Search button in Help and type: 

   lotus 1-2-3, converting files
Lotus 1-2-3 is manufactured by Lotus, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.0c 7.00 97
Keywords : xl123quattro xlloadsave kb3rdparty kberrmsg
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: February 12, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.