XL: Cannot Import Password Protected WK3 or WK4 Files

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.x, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 3.0

SUMMARY

A Lotus 1-2-3 WK3 or WK4 file that is password protected cannot be imported into Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Excel versions earlier than 4.0 open the file as a blank worksheet without warning. Microsoft Excel versions 4.0 and later display the following message when you attempt to open the file:

   Cannot open protected file.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

To open the file in Microsoft Excel, resave the file in Lotus 1-2-3 without the password, or save the file as a WKS or WK1 file. Microsoft Excel can import password protected Lotus 1-2-3 files in the WKS or WK1 format and prompts you for the password before the worksheet is opened.

REFERENCES

"User's Guide," version 5.0, Chapter 3 "Switching to Microsoft Excel from Lotus 1-2-3," version 4.0, pages 24-31