XL2000: "Cannot Open Protected File" Error Message Opening Password Protected WK3 or WK4 File

ID: Q214108

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 2000

ERROR MESSAGE

When you attempt to open a Lotus 1-2-3 WK3 or WK4 file that is password protected, you receive the following error message:

Cannot open protected file.

NOTE: Microsoft Office 2000 has built-in functionality that allows you to get more information about difficult-to-troubleshoot alerts or error messages. If you want to enable this functionality for this and other error messages in Microsoft Office 2000, please download the Microsoft Office 2000 Customizable Alerts file from the Microsoft Office Update Web site at the following address:

http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/2000/downloadDetails/alerts.htm

NOTE: If you reached this article by clicking the Web Info button in an error message, you already have Customizable Alerts enabled.

CAUSE

Microsoft Excel cannot import password protected Lotus 1-2-3 files saved in the WK3 or WK4 file format.

WHAT TO TRY

Microsoft Excel can import Lotus 1-2-3 files that are not password protected or that are saved in the WKS or WK1 file format. To open the file in Excel, reopen it in Lotus 1-2-3 and do either of the following:

Resave it without the password.

-or-
Resave it as a WKS or WK1 file. Note that if you save the file in this format, Excel will prompt you for the password when you attempt to open the worksheet.

Additional query words: xl2000 extended error errmsg

Keywords : kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb