Opening Microsoft Works Files in Excel 2000

Microsoft Excel can open Microsoft Works files saved in the Microsoft Works 2.0 (or earlier) format. To open Microsoft Works 3.0 or 4.0 files in Microsoft Excel, you must first save them in a compatible file format.

Save in a Compatible File Format

If you want to open a file saved from Microsoft Works 3.0 or 4.0 in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later, the file must first be saved in a compatible file format. To do this in Microsoft Works for Windows® version 3.0, follow these steps:

1. Open the file in Microsoft Works 3.0.
2. Click Save As on the File menu.
3. From the Save File As Type list, select one of the following file formats: Works for Windows 2.0 (WKS), Excel 4.0/5.0 (XLS), Lotus 1-2-3 (WK1).
   The file format you choose depends on what you want to do with the file after opening it in Excel; for instance, if you want to continue to work on the file in Excel, choose the Excel 4.0/5.0 (XLS) format. If you want to re-open the file in Works, however, select the Works for Windows 2.0 (WKS) format.
4. Click OK to save the file in the new format.
5. Close the file before you attempt to open it in Microsoft Excel.

Open a Microsoft Works File in Excel

To open a Microsoft Works file in Excel, follow these steps:

1. Click Open on the File menu.
2. In the Look in list, click the drive or folder that contains the file you want to open, and then locate the folder that contains the file.
3. In the Files of type list, click the appropriate file type (for example, Microsoft Works 2.0 Files (*.wks)), or, if you followed the directions above and saved the file in either a Microsoft Excel file format or Lotus 1-2-3 file format, click Microsoft Excel Files (*.xl*;*.xls;*.xla;*.xlt;*.*.xlm; *.xlc;) or Lotus 1-2-3 Files (*.wk?).
4. Double-click the file you want to open.

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