Microsoft Excel help required

I recently sent myself some Excel files via Email so I could access them from wherever I was.

Now these files were made in Office 2007 and when I try and upen them with a previous version it says they are not recognised and spits out a load of gobbledegook.
The files have an extension of .xlsx and not the usual .xls

Does anyone have any idea as to how I can open these with Excel 2000 so save me having to buy Office 2007. I REALLY need to get into them today.

Cheers, C

[phi-dan]

Here you go http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...displaylang=en

So long as you haven't got 2007 only functionality or formatting you should be alright

[pookie]

you can download a viewer http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...displaylang=en

pretty sure you cant amend it tho.

If not email it to me and I'll save it as an excel 2000 and mail it back to you. PM if you need any help

[SoulKiss]

Save them in Excel 95-2003 format at all times

On a more useful note, there is a convertor plugin that Microsoft supplies that will open the 2007/2010 format file and save them as the older version.

I cant remember where to get it from tho - I have it on my laptop at work, but I am working from home today.

However there is this which will add the ability to open those files into your copy of Office.

Oh, you are beautiful, fantastic peoples!

Thanks!

[_Stretchie_]

As above really, you can either download a viewer or you could ask the sender to resave them as your version of Excel. It's just 'Save As' and then use the drop down menu of 'File Type' and select your version of Excel before they save and resend.

They can also run the compatibility checker (Office button in top left > Prepare > Run Compatibility Checker) before they save, this will show them any problems that you would have when you open the file. They can either then decide there is no point or forewarn you about it.

All depends on the content really

[Swin]

A friend of mine had a similar problem with versions of Word - I use OpenOffice, which will open and save a huge variety of Office variants, so was able to open the file he couldn't and then save it into a format that my mate could use.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Swin

A friend of mine had a similar problem with versions of Word - I use OpenOffice, which will open and save a huge variety of Office variants, so was able to open the file he couldn't and then save it into a format that my mate could use.

All well and good, but OpenOffice has BIG issues with converting DOCX type files - main one is a rounding issue with tabstops etc that can mean that while you can read the document, it often looks rubbish.

[Swin]

looked fine to me, but hey ho, just a suggestion - free and easy

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Swin

looked fine to me, but hey ho, just a suggestion - free and easy

Believe me, I agree with you, I tried to get our company onto OpenOffice, but a combination of people being stuck in their ways and little problems like the one I listed meant that while we only spend about £375 on hardware each time we get a new starter, wen then have to spend another £120 on an Office 2010 license...