Excel: Can't Open Record Error When Loading Lotus Worksheet

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you open a Lotus 1-2-3 worksheet in Microsoft Excel, invalid characters in names are converted to the underscore character (_).

If two or more defined names on the worksheet contain special characters that cause them to be resolved to the same name, Microsoft Excel displays the following error message:

   Can't Open Record (name=<defined name>)

CAUSE

Because Microsoft Excel doesn't allow all of the special characters in names that Lotus does, names that contain different special characters, but are otherwise identical, will be converted to the same name.

For example, if you have Sale$ and Sale# as names defined on a Lotus worksheet and you open the worksheet in Excel the characters $ and # will be converted to _ (underscore). This results in two different ranges defined with the same name.

Note that this error won't occur if both of the names refer to the same range.

Lotus 1-2-3 is manufactured by Lotus Development Corp., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this products' performance or reliability.