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General discussion

Excel unable to read files from earlier version

Sep 9, 2004 8:30AM PDT

Using Excel 9.0 on XP, I get "unable to read file" on several password protected, but not encrypted, files. I was able to link the cells to another workbook to save the data on all but two using "A1=<file name>!A1. I get the same message when I try to link to these two files and can't get any data from them. Several files on the same computer are opening without the assigned password and contain only jumbled text. Any ideas?

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Re: Excel unable to read files from earlier version
Sep 9, 2004 10:44AM PDT

Go get Open Office from http://www.openoffice.org and see if you can open, then remove the password and then save the file.

Try again with the newer Excel.

Bob

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Re: Excel unable to read files from earlier version
Sep 9, 2004 8:08PM PDT

If OpenOffice doesn't work, try
(a) the free Microsoft Excel viewer, then copy and paste into a new workbook
(b) find a computer with the older version of Excel installed, open the spreadsheets there and save them without a password
(c) install the older version of Excel on your computer temporarily - you should be able to do so without affecting the current one

Kees