XL97: "Cannot Convert" Error Saving File in Earlier Format
ID: Q167077
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The information in this article applies to:
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Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel 97, when you save a workbook in an older format, for
example in any of the following formats
Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook
Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet
Microsoft Excel 3.0 Worksheet
Microsoft Excel 2.1 Worksheet
you may receive multiple error messages similar to the following:
A formula in a cell (Cell:B7) could not be converted because it
contains a function that is not available in the file format to which
you are saving. If you continue the save, the formula and result will
be saved, but the function itself will be converted to an error value.
-and-
Microsoft Excel cannot convert some of the cells. The total number of
errors found is 3.
-and-
This workbook contains features that are not supported by the file
format that you selected. To avoid the possible loss of formatting or
information, be sure to save a copy in the most recent Microsoft Excel
Workbook format.
CAUSE
You receive these error messages if either of the following conditions are
true:
- The workbook or worksheet you are saving contains formulas that use
functions that do not exist in the earlier version of Microsoft Excel.
-or-
- Functions in your formulas refer to arguments that do not exist in the
earlier version of Microsoft Excel.
STATUS
This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 97.
MORE INFORMATION
If the workbook or worksheet contains functions and/or arguments that are
not supported in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, you receive the error
messages in this article when you save a file in a file format for an
earlier version of Microsoft Excel.
If you save the file in the format for an earlier version, save a copy of
the workbook in the Microsoft Excel Workbook format (for Microsoft Excel 97
version). This step ensures that you do not permanently lose any of your
formulas or formatting.
The worksheet functions, which are available in Microsoft Excel 97, are not
available in the versions of Microsoft Excel that are specified in the
following table.
Function 7.0 5.0 4.0
------------------------------
AMORDEGRC x
AMORLINC x
AVERAGEA x x x
CONCATENATE x
COUNTBLANK x
COUNTIF x
GETPIVOTDATA x x x
HYPERLINK x x x
MAXA x x x
MINA x x x
POWER x
ROMAN x
ROUNDDOWN x
ROUNDUP x
SQLREQUEST x
STDEVA x x x
STDEVPA x x x
SUBTOTAL x
SUMIF x
VARA x x x
VARPA x x x
In addition, there are other functions, for example, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP,
DAYS360, and WEEKDAY, that accept more arguments in Microsoft Excel 97 than
they do in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel.
The "Cannot Convert" Error Message
The "Microsoft Excel cannot convert some of the cells" error message
reports a varying number of errors. This number depends on the file format
in which you save the workbook or worksheet. This behavior occurs for the
following reasons:
- Functions and arguments that are supported in one earlier version of
Microsoft Excel (for example, version 5.0) may not be supported in
another earlier version of Microsoft Excel (for example, version 4.0).
- Depending on how you enter formulas in your worksheets, some cells that
contain unsupported functions and/or arguments may not be reported. This
behavior occurs if any of the cells that contain the formulas are using
"shared" formulas. If cells contain shared formulas, the number reported
by the error message may be smaller than expected.
The difference in the number of reported cells is not cause for concern;
however, you should be aware of the difference. Make sure you save a copy
of the workbook in the Microsoft Excel Workbook format to avoid losing
formulas and/or formatting.
For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q136733
XL: "Cannot Write Record" Error Saving File to Earlier Format
Additional query words:
97 XL97
Keywords : kberrmsg xlloadsave
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb