XL97: Workbooks Saved in Earlier Formats May Open Slowly

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you open a workbook that is saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format, the workbook may open more slowly than a similar workbook saved in the Microsoft Excel 97 Workbook format.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the workbook you are opening contains one or more Visual Basic modules.

The problem occurs because Microsoft Excel 97 must load additional dynamic- link library (DLL) files into random access memory. These DLLs convert the workbook modules and move them into the Visual Basic Editor in Microsoft Excel 97.

WORKAROUND

To ensure that workbooks that contain modules open as quickly as possible, save them in the Microsoft Excel 97 Workbook format. When you open workbooks that you save in this format, Microsoft Excel 97 does not have to convert the workbooks.

To save a workbook in the Microsoft Excel 97 Workbook format, do the following:

1. If the workbook is open, switch to it. If the workbook is not open, open it.

2. On the File menu, click Save As.

3. In the Save As Type list, click Microsoft Excel Workbook (the item at the top of the list).

4. If you want, change the name of the workbook in the File Name box.

5. Click Save.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

When you open a workbook saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format in Microsoft Excel 97 and the workbook contains any modules, the modules are converted and moved into the Visual Basic Editor. This process increases the amount of time required to open the workbook.

Workbooks saved in the Microsoft Excel 97 Workbook format are already optimized for this process. As a result, they open more quickly than workbooks saved in the earlier workbook format.