The file format has changed with Microsoft Excel 97, but we have added some options to help you with the transition. You may save in any of the following formats:
If your application does not require functionality that is specific to Microsoft Excel 97, files may be left in their original version of Microsoft Excel. You will still need to check your applications to make sure they run properly in Microsoft Excel 97.
If your applications are written in the Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro language, this is a good time to upgrade them to Visual Basic.
Generally, applications that are not used often or those requiring a complicated rewrite would be candidates for this treatment. Note that saving applications in prior versions of Microsoft Excel may be a useful option while an organization is in the process of rolling out Microsoft Excel 97.
If users with different versions of Microsoft Excel must share an application or a file, the developer may choose to save a file with both file formats. Be aware that Microsoft Excel files saved in this manner will be larger because they contain both file formats.
The general rule of thumb for using this dual format is to use it when a Microsoft Excel 97 user has edited a file with a feature available only in Microsoft Excel 97 (such as conditional formatting) and Microsoft Excel 95 users need to read the file, but do not need to save changes. If both users must be able to edit and save this file, it should be saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format. You must weigh the use of the dual-file format against the option of adding code to an application to mimic the Microsoft Excel 97 functionality. For example, an "On.Entry" routine that formats the values in cells could emulate the conditional formatting that is built into Microsoft Excel 97.
Once users have migrated to Microsoft Excel 97, many administrators will want to convert all older files so end users don't have to do it one file at a time. A batch-file converter that is provided with Microsoft Excel 97 will convert entire directories of files to the Microsoft Excel 97 format. This File Conversion Wizard is installed on the Wizard submenu of the Tools menu if the user chose to install this Wizard in Custom Setup.
Microsoft Excel 97 still supports running Microsoft Excel 4.0 (XLM) macros with few changes. While Microsoft Excel 4.0 macros still run in Microsoft Excel 97, the Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro language has not been updated to reflect the expanded object model and you can no longer record macros in the Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro language. Correspondingly, support for the XLM macro language will grow increasingly difficult to come by (documentation is no longer provided with Microsoft Excel), so you may want to consider upgrading XLM applications to Visual Basic.