Excel

[TomD]

I've got a copy of Office 2000 containing Word and Excel and this version has all the functionality that I need though I am relatively advanced in my Excel usage. I used it extensively in business and created all my own specialized stuff. I've played with later versions but came away convinced that they just stuffed the program with unnecessary BS and hindered the raw functionality of the program.

The problem is that the asshats aren't building in backwards compatibility to 2000 in the later versions. End result is that whenever anyone send a new Excel file to me I can't open it in my 2000 version. I can download a reader to view the file but I can't work with it. I have to email back to them and ask them to save the file as an earlier format and resend the file. In short a PIA to both of us.

And I don't want to spend money to pay MS for their asshat decision to screw me by purposely deleting backwards compatibility, thereby forcing people to continue to pay them whether we want a new program or not. But sooner or later I'll end up with some OS that won't run Office 2000.

What's my solution? Open source?

[ralleia]

I had a similar problem with Excel/Word 2003 and everyone sending me 2010 format. I think there was a converter somewhere, though I'm not certain it goes all the way back to the 2000 version. Lemme sniff around a bit...

[PhucilliJerry]

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=3

Download/install the compatibility pack above and you'll be good to go........

[ralleia]

I believe that this page describes a solution for you. It appears that you can get to your format through an "Open XML format."

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/microsoft-office-compatibility-pack-for-word-excel-and-powerpoint-HA010168676.aspx

[Dude]

C'mon. What'd ya do, lose your slide rule?

[TomD]

C'mon. What'd ya do, lose your slide rule?

Heh! Slip sticks are cool but they run outta steam at multi-thousand data points on 10+ linked but hidden pages and using a number of formulas and macros and all the sub-results collated to a central page. Using my own Excel derived software, I used to do budgets on projects running $50million+. They get a little complicated.

I loaded the patch and still can't direct open a 2010 sheet emailed to me this AM. Looks like to direct open using the patch, I would need 2003 or later.

[Dude]

You can
Heh! Slip sticks are cool but they run outta steam at multi-thousand data points on 10+ linked but hidden pages and using a number of formulas and macros and all the sub-results collated to a central page. Using my own Excel derived software, I used to do budgets on projects running $50million+. They get a little complicated.

I loaded the patch and still can't direct open a 2010 sheet emailed to me this AM. Looks like to direct open using the patch, I would need 2003 or later.

You can get Office Pro 2003 for less than $40 on eBay from a power seller.

[Argentium]

The "upgrade" from Orifice 2003 to 2007 was one of the worst "improvements" that MS has made. We were getting more and more Word and Excel files in the new formats and it was a bit embarrassing to ask customers for the older file formats, so we were basically forced to upgrade to Office 2007. I still work with the 2003 versions, but save to the new formats.

I'd like to go with Open Office, but don't want to retrain everyone.

[ralleia]

I loaded the patch and still can't direct open a 2010 sheet emailed to me this AM. Looks like to direct open using the patch, I would need 2003 or later.

As I understand it, you have to go through the open XML format as an intermediate step.

Will the converter save it as an open XML document as an option?

I can jump on another computer and see if I can find an old copy of Office if you continue to have difficulties with it. I was a computer geek in a previous life. :)

[Dude]

I was a computer geek in a previous life. :)

I geek for a living.

[TomD]

As I understand it, you have to go through the open XML format as an intermediate step.

Will the converter save it as an open XML document as an option?

I can jump on another computer and see if I can find an old copy of Office if you continue to have difficulties with it. I was a computer geek in a previous life. :)

That's a converter? I thought it was a plugin. Let me dig around for a few minutes.

Edit: It's called Compatibility Pack for Office 2007. I found the download and installed it again. It didn't give me a file path, just said installation finished; that's why I figured it as a plug in the 1st go through. If it's a standalone, I can't find it anywhere in programs or through search.

Where did it install?

Edit again: finally found it in C/program file(x86)/MS Office/Office12/excelcnv + another file for Word

Damn, the only thing I can get it to do is change my xls files into xlsx files but not backwards. If I right click on a 2000 xls file I'm given a save as option of excel 2007 xlsx but if I right click on a 2007 xlsx file there is no save as option of any kind.

[Goldhedge]

Of course you could just use Open Office for free...

[PhucilliJerry]

Have you installed service pack 3? Have you run Microsoft Update recently to install any "important" updates??? Make sure everything else is up-to-date before installing the comp. pack. Even windows itself, not just office.....

[K_Flynn]

Of course you could just use Open Office for free...

It's called libreoffice now.

I haven't paid M$ a dime and I can do whatever office functions I need.

------> www.libreoffice.org <------

[LukeNM]

Back in July of last year I got a copy of Office 2003, factory sealed box, with free shipping, for $39.99. Not bragging, just letting you know the deals are out there.

[ralleia]

That's a converter? I thought it was a plugin. Let me dig around for a few minutes.

Edit: It's called Compatibility Pack for Office 2007. I found the download and installed it again. It didn't give me a file path, just said installation finished; that's why I figured it as a plug in the 1st go through. If it's a standalone, I can't find it anywhere in programs or through search.

Where did it install?

Edit again: finally found it in C/program file(x86)/MS Office/Office12/excelcnv + another file for Word

Damn, the only thing I can get it to do is change my xls files into xlsx files but not backwards. If I right click on a 2000 xls file I'm given a save as option of excel 2007 xlsx but if I right click on a 2007 xlsx file there is no save as option of any kind.

I'm going to have to drag out a computer that has Excel 2003 or later and experiment. From reading Microsoft's instructions, it sounds like there is an intermediate step with converting the file to binary format using Windows Explorer. I don't know how much of a pain that might be until I do it, but I can't get to it until after all my classes are done for the day.

I like Dude's and LukeNM's suggestions of getting a ~$40 Office 2003. I like 2003 a lot, much better than the 2010 version, and I still run it on the computers where I don't need constant compatibility. But if you have a beef with Microsoft and adamantly refuse to buy another product I COMPLETELY understand the sentiment!

I also like Goldhedge's suggestion of OpenOffice. The spreadsheet on that functioned such that be knowing Excel I was already "fluent" with OpenOffice. But I don't know all the compatibility issues that it might have.

Anyhow, once I get done with today I'll have a day free to mess with computers!

[TomD]

I'm going to have to drag out a computer that has Excel 2003 or later and experiment. From reading Microsoft's instructions, it sounds like there is an intermediate step with converting the file to binary format using Windows Explorer. I don't know how much of a pain that might be until I do it, but I can't get to it until after all my classes are done for the day.

I like Dude's and LukeNM's suggestions of getting a ~$40 Office 2003. I like 2003 a lot, much better than the 2010 version, and I still run it on the computers where I don't need constant compatibility. But if you have a beef with Microsoft and adamantly refuse to buy another product I COMPLETELY understand the sentiment!

I also like Goldhedge's suggestion of OpenOffice. The spreadsheet on that functioned such that be knowing Excel I was already "fluent" with OpenOffice. But I don't know all the compatibility issues that it might have.

Anyhow, once I get done with today I'll have a day free to mess with computers!

I found I can get a copy of Office 2003 Business Basic for around $20. It's got excel and word, all I presently need. But I'll wait for your reply on how it functions with the converter. The only thing I've found that I can now do with my 2000 and the converter is change my 2000 xls files into 2007 xlsx files. Well BFD.

[Dude]

I found I can get a copy of Office 2003 Business Basic for around $20. It's got excel and word, all I presently need. But I'll wait for your reply on how it functions with the converter. The only thing I've found that I can now do with my 2000 and the converter is change my 2000 xls files into 2007 xlsx files. Well BFD.

If you are gonna get one, get a second one to send to the Budget Committee in DC. Oh, wait, they will need Video Professor training. Do they have remedial instruction available? If you find your slide rule, send them that, too. Oh, wait, who knows what they'll do with that.

[Weatherman]

What's my solution? Open source?
Here is another program that says it is compatible with all versions of Excel. If you don't already have a good alternative, this may be worth a try. This is free for today only, but there are several other alternatives listed in the comments.

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/kingsoft-spreadsheet-standard