Excel: File Translation Between Macintosh and Windows Versions

ID: Q81274

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

The following information discusses the use of Apple File Exchange software to convert Microsoft Excel files from Windows to Macintosh and vice versa with any Apple Macintosh equipped with an FDHD (floppy disk high density) drive. These drives come standard on Apple Macintosh computers released after the SE/30, Mac IIc, and Mac IIcx. This includes the Mac IIsi, Mac IIci, Mac IIfx, Mac LC, Mac Quadra 700, Mac Quadra 900, Mac IIvx, Mac Centris 610, Mac Centris 650, Quadra 800, Quadra 950, Mac LC II, Mac LC III, Performa 200, Performa 400, Performa 405, Performa 430, Performa 450, Performa 600, Powerbook 140, Powerbook 145, Powerbook 160, Powerbook 165c, Powerbook 170, Powerbook 180, Powerbook Duo 210, Powerbook Duo 230.


MORE INFORMATION

Apple's high-density drives can read MS-DOS and OS/2 disks in 720K and 1.44M formats, as well as 800K PRODOS and Apple's 400K, 800K, and 1.44M formats. Using the Apple File Exchange program (which is supplied with all Apple operating systems), it is possible for an Apple 3.5 inch drive to read and write to MS-DOS diskettes and translate Microsoft Excel files to and from them.

NOTE: Apple File Exchange can be found on the Utilities 2 disk of System 6 software, or the Tidbits disk of System 7 software.

Transferring Files later than Excel version 1.5 Across Either Platform

  1. Save the file in Normal format to a 3.5 inch disk (or to the hard drive on a Macintosh).


  2. From the Macintosh, launch Apple File Exchange.


  3. Insert the MS-DOS disk into the floppy drive.


  4. Select the document(s) to be translated from the source dialog box.


  5. Select the appropriate drive and folder level for the destination dialog box.


  6. Choose "default translation" from the "MS-DOS to Mac" menu, if going from Windows to Macintosh, or the "Mac to MS-DOS" menu if going from Mac to Windows.


  7. Click the Translate button.


  8. Quit Apple File Exchange.


NOTE: Files traveling from Macintosh to Windows will have their names truncated to adhere to MS-DOS limitations. This may cause name conflicts. If this situation occurs, Apple File Exchange will allow you to edit the file names before translation. For easiest translation, insure that the first eleven characters of each Macintosh file name are unique.

All versions of Microsoft Excel after 1.5 can read files translated from another platform according to the same limitations governing all versions of the program, that is, later versions of the application can read files from earlier versions, but not vice versa. In order to read a Microsoft Excel for Windows version 3.0 file in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh version 2.2, for example, that file should be saved in Microsoft Excel 2.1 file format in Windows before translation through Apple File Exchange.

Transferring Excel version 1.5 and Earlier Across Either Platform

Follow the steps above except:

  1. Save the file in SYLK format before translation.


  2. Choose "text translation" from either the "MS-DOS to Mac" or "Mac to MS-DOS" menus.



REFERENCES

"User's Guide," version 4.0, pages 60-61
"User's Guide," version 3.0 for Windows, pages 138-140
"User's Guide," for the Macintosh, version 3.0, pages 132-133

Additional query words: 2.1 2.10 2.2 2.20 3.0

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Last Reviewed: March 23, 1999
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