Compatibility Issues between Mac and PC

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chrystal25@officeformac.com - 04 May 2008 19:57 GMT

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

I just purchased a Mac for my home business. I was formerly using a PC w/windows vista. My problem lies in that I need to send other co-workers excel documents. I have no problem opening their documents, but they keep having issues with mine. I know none of them have 2008. I am unsure of their exact versions, but I do know that they all have pc's w/windows. The issues that they are having range from them not being able to save after making changes to the document - to - not just being able to open it at all from their email!! I have tried to save the file types as -

Excel workbook
Excel 97 - 2004 & 5.5/95 workbook.

And lastly there are macros from amazon.com on the all of files.

PLEASE HELP!! I don't want to go back to my PC!!!

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chrystal25@officeformac.com - 04 May 2008 20:06 GMT

Also I forgot to add that I was not protecting the documents, and when my co-workers would actually be able to open them - not only would it not let them save, it would also tell them it was protected and that they needed to enter in the password. And like I said I never protected the files in the first place.

Basically I just need to know what File format will work.

Thanks for any help - I truly appreciate it!!

~Chrystal

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Phillip Jones - 05 May 2008 01:28 GMT

Unless your using some of the new exotic features designed into 2008
just go to Preferences >Compatibility and set 97-2004 setting.
Or when you choose to save the document do *Save As...* and scroll down
list until you see 97-2004 (or some variation on this. It means from
Office 97 PC to Office 2004 Mac)

Then save your document. It means you colleagues, are using version that
are not either Office2008 Mac or Office 2007 PC. Both those version save
by default in the new oop-XML format. (docx, xlsx, pptx).
Now if you have added something to the database/spreadsheet that uses
one or more of the new 2008 features they will be lost in the
translation. So my advise would be save copy in the old format after you
have finished and see if everything you put in stay in. If so send to
your colleagues, they should have no problem

> Also I forgot to add that I was not protecting the documents, and when my co-workers would actually be able to open them - not only would it not let them save, it would also tell them it was protected and that they needed to enter in the password. And like I said I never protected the files in the first place.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> ~Chrystal

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chrystal25@officeformac.com - 05 May 2008 01:55 GMT

I'm using 2004 - Not 2008!

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chrystal25@officeformac.com - 05 May 2008 02:01 GMT

I'm sorry I forgot to clarify that - But I did mention that I use Macros... Which 2008 does not support (already made the mistake of purchasing it- *SIGH*!!)

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Phillip Jones - 06 May 2008 00:32 GMT

Okay you should have any problems in that case *unless* you have used
something that used the VBA or Macros based on VBA.

IF that's not the problem I don't know What could be the problem.

One thing to suggest if there are PC's in the House (not just Macs)
then when you go to save make sure the check box next to show extensions
is checked on and that you see xls at the end of you file.

To mac's it doesn't make a difference if created on another mac whether
you see this extension. But on PC even though its said it now doesn't
make a difference depending upon how servers are set up most still
depend on those extension to identify that file type.

If this still doesn't help wait for someone else here to weigh in.

> I'm sorry I forgot to clarify that - But I did mention that I use Macros... Which 2008 does not support (already made the mistake of purchasing it- *SIGH*!!)

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Michael - 07 May 2008 08:19 GMT

Are there similar Add-Ins for Macs e.g. Analysis ToolPak etc? I've just migrated from Windows to Mac and some of the formulae not recognised on Mac.

Thanks.

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JE McGimpsey - 07 May 2008 12:20 GMT

> Are there similar Add-Ins for Macs e.g. Analysis ToolPak etc? I've just
> migrated from Windows to Mac and some of the formulae not recognised on Mac.

The Analysis Toolpak is available for MacXL versions prior to XL08, and
come on the Install Disk. Check Tools/Add-ins to see if the ATP was
installed. If not, copy the Analysis Tools folder from your Install Disk
to the

HD:Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Office:Add-Ins:

folder.

The ATP is not necessary for function compatibility XL08 since the ATP
functions were made part of XL.

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Jim Gordon MVP - 06 May 2008 03:42 GMT

> Version: 2004
> Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> PLEASE HELP!! I don't want to go back to my PC!!!

Hi,

It doesn't sound like you're doing anything in Excel that would cause a
compatibility problem.

What method(s) are you using to bring the files from your computer to
the Windows computers? Email? Flash drive?

-Jim

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chrystal25@officeformac.com - 06 May 2008 04:50 GMT

I am using Email to send the Documents. Today I switched back to my PC because, it wasn't very professional to send documents that were not usable.

I would LOVE to go back to my Mac if I could figure it out!!

I always disabled the macros when I would open the files - so I don't understand how I would alter them??

Also - Office kept closing down without warning.

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Phillip Jones - 07 May 2008 02:24 GMT

Go back to you Mac and try the following:

save file quit Excel.

now from finder locate and highlight that file the go to File menu (from
Finder desktop) and choose create archive.

this will change the extension to .zip

Now send file. Now go to a Pc and download that zip file and use winzip
to open. now see if excel PC can open.

see What happens and report back.

> I am using Email to send the Documents. Today I switched back to my PC because, it wasn't very professional to send documents that were not usable.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Also - Office kept closing down without warning.

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Mac Forum / Applications / Excel / May 2008

Compatibility Issues between Mac and PC