Knowledge Base

Works: Errors Importing Information from Microsoft Profit

Article ID: 115870

Article Last Modified on 11/15/2004

Microsoft Works 2.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Works 2.0a
Microsoft Works 3.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Works 3.0a
Microsoft Works 3.0b
Microsoft Works 4.5 Standard Edition
Microsoft Works 4.5a
Microsoft Works 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Works 4.0a

This article was previously published under Q115870

SYMPTOMS

When importing information (reports) from Microsoft Profit into Works version 2.0 or 3.0, certain cells in the Database or Spreadsheet module may return a value of number signs (#####), where the format of the cell is set to Date. In Works version 4.0, 4.5 or 4.5a, "Invalid Date" (without the quotation marks) will be displayed in the cells. Widening the cell's width will not correct the problem.

This can occur because Microsoft Profit puts a zero (0) into cells when the cells are left blank. The value of zero, or any number less than one, is not a valid Works date value, and Works will fill the cell with number signs or with "Invalid Date."

RESOLUTION

Do one of the following:

Replace the zeros with valid dates in Works.
-or-
Delete the zeros in Works.

MORE INFORMATION

To import the file from Microsoft Profit into Works, export the reports in Profit as a delimited ASCII text file. You can then open the file in Works as a Database or Spreadsheet file.

If Works is on the same system as the Profit program, you can select "View RPT In Microsoft Works For Windows" from the View menu.

One way to see this behavior is through the following example:

Create a new spreadsheet in Works.
In cell A1, type May and press ENTER.

NOTE: This will cause the cell to be formatted as a date.
In cell A1, type the number zero (0) and press ENTER.

Cell A1 will now display this behavior.

Additional query words: 2.00 2.00a 3.00 3.00a 3.00b 4.00 4.00a 4.50 4.50a w_works Tab Comma Bad Great Plains Software copy export transfer data information text plaines

Keywords: kbprb KB115870