Saving Excel Worksheet in Word Overwrites Excel File Format

Q113128


The information in this article applies to:


SYMPTOMS

When you save a Microsoft Excel worksheet in Word for Windows, Word's Save As dialog box offers options to save in Word Document format and Microsoft Excel Worksheet format.

If you choose to save in Word Document format, your Microsoft Excel worksheet will immediately be saved in Word format and Microsoft Excel will no longer be able to read it. If you choose to save in Microsoft Excel Worksheet format, Word will inform you that the converter cannot save in Microsoft Excel format. Word can only open files in this format.

If you save a Microsoft Excel 5.0 workbook in Word format, the worksheet you had open will be saved in Word format and all workbook contents will be lost.


CAUSE

Word includes a Microsoft Excel converter that can import Microsoft Excel 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, and 5.0 for Windows worksheet files. The converter for this format can only open (import) files. It cannot save (export) in Microsoft Excel format. Therefore, you should not save a Microsoft Excel file in Word if you want to be able to open it later in Microsoft Excel.


STATUS

This behavior is by design in Word. When Word warns you that the Microsoft Excel file format will be overwritten, you should choose No to cancel the save operation.


RESOLUTION

To edit and save changes to a Microsoft Excel Worksheet while in Word, open a Microsoft Excel worksheet via DDE in Mail Merge Helper and choose the Edit button. Otherwise, open worksheet files in Microsoft Excel and work with them there.

Do not save worksheets in Word format. Microsoft Excel will not be able to read them and workbook data will be lost.

Additional query words: 6.00a spreadsheet xlbiff.cnv officeinterop w4wexcel

Keywords : kbconversion
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Last Reviewed: November 4, 2000
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