Works Error: "Invalid Range Names" When Saving as Excel File

• Microsoft Works for Windows 95, versions 4.0 and 4.5
• Microsoft Works for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0a, and 3.0b

SYMPTOMS

When you save a Works for Windows spreadsheet in the Microsoft Excel format with a print area defined, you receive the following error message.

Works 4.0 and 4.5

   Invalid Range Names.

   Make sure your range names begin with a letter, an underscore (_), or
   a backslash (\), and contain only letters or numbers.

Works 3.x

   Invalid Range Names.

   You have chosen an invalid range name for Excel. Make sure your range
   names begin with a letter, an underscore (_), or a backslash (\), and
   contain only letters and numbers.

CAUSE

Setting a Print Area in a Works for Windows spreadsheet generates a Print Area range name that contains an invalid character for an Excel range name.

NOTE: This character is the space between "Print" and "Area."

STATUS

The Print Area will not be converted when you save a Works spreadsheet as an Excel file type or if you save an Excel spreadsheet as a Works file.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Works 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.