XL: Cannot Open Multiplan Files

ID: Q147272


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows


SYMPTOMS

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article, if you try to open a MultiPlan file in Microsoft Excel, the file fails to open and you receive one of the following error messages.

If you try to open a MultiPlan file in Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 7.0, you will receive the following error message:

Microsoft Excel needs a converter to open this MultiPlan file. Run the Microsoft Excel Setup program to install it.
If you try to open a MultiPlan file in Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows, you will receive the following error message:
This file is not in a recognizable format.


CAUSE

You experience this problem because the MultiPlan converter is not provided with the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article.

NOTE: When you try to open a MultiPlan file in Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 7.0, the error message that you receive is incorrect. You cannot install a MultiPlan converter by running Microsoft Excel 7.0 Setup.


WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do either of the following:

  • Open the MultiPlan file in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 and save the file as a Microsoft Excel workbook file. You should then be able to open the file because Microsoft Excel version 5.0 includes a MultiPlan converter.


  • -or-

  • Open the file in MultiPlan and export it into the Symbolic Link (SYLK) file format. The versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article have a built-in converter for the SYLK file format.


For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q136385 WD95: Supported Foreign File Formats in Word and Office 95

Additional query words: convert import

Keywords : kberrmsg kbinterop kbsetup xlloadsave
Version : WINDOWS:7.0,7.0a
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: October 30, 1999
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