XL: Formulas Failed to Convert Error Opening WK4 File

ID: Q123261

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 file, you may receive one of following error messages:

This document contains formulas which failed to convert

-OR-

Cannot read cell <<cell address>>. Continue reporting each error?

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you click OK in the error message box, cells on the worksheet that contain a formula that did not convert contain a cell Comment denoted by a red mark in the upper-right corner of the cell. The Comment displays the message

Formula failed to convert

and the cell contains the value of the formula when it was last saved.

In Microsoft Excel version 7.0 and earlier, when you click OK in the error message box, cells on the worksheet that contain a formula that did not convert contain the #VALUE! error value, and a cell note indicator.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because not all of the formulas available in Lotus 1- 2-3 are supported when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 file in Microsoft Excel. Some of the formulas must be created again in Microsoft Excel. The following list is an example of some of the formulas that are available in Lotus 1-2- 3 that are not converted when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 file in Microsoft Excel:


   @ACCRUED
   @ASEC
   @BETA
   @DATEINFO
   @PRODUCT (only Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0)

Note that when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 WK3 file, you receive an error message for each cell that contains a formula that cannot be converted. Additionally, when you open the file, the cells that contain formulas that were not converted contain the original value for the formula.

WORKAROUND

To locate each cell on the worksheet that contains a formula that was not converted do the following.

In Microsoft Excel 97

On the View menu, click Comments. Every cell that contains a cell Comment will show a tip displaying the text of the Comment.

In Microsoft Excel version 7.0 and earlier

On the Insert menu, click Note. The Notes In Sheet list contains the references of the cells that contain formulas that were not converted--the notes will contain the text "Formula failed to convert."

MORE INFORMATION

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

Q121083 : Cell Note Indicator in Worksheet Imported from Lotus 1-2-3

To open Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 files in Microsoft Excel, you must obtain the Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter. The Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter is available in Application Note WE1130 "Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter." You can obtain WE1130 from the following sources:

For more information about obtaining the Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q122583 : XL5: Lotus 1-2-3 Release 4 for Windows File Converter

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

REFERENCES

Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter README.TXT

For more information about Calculating Lotus 1-2-3 Formulas, click the Search button in Help and type:


   Lotus 1-2-3, calculating formulas

Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c 7.00a xl97

Keywords : xlwin
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :