Office Compatibility Pack Problems with Excel

[P@discussions.microsoft.com Don P]

I have updated Windows XP and Office 2000 using Microsoft Update.

Then I installed the Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint 2007 File Formats.

Now I can open a .docx file with Word 2000 but I get the error 'The file is
not in a recognizable format' when I open a .xlsx file with Excel 2000.

How do I solve this error problem with Excel 2000?

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Don,

> Then I installed the Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and
> PowerPoint 2007 File Formats.
>
> Now I can open a .docx file with Word 2000 but I get the error 'The file is
> not in a recognizable format' when I open a .xlsx file with Excel 2000.

Does it work when the file is double clicked from within Explorer?

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com

[Don P]

I get this same error when a .xlsx file is double clicked in explorer or
opened in Excel 2000.

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Don,

> I get this same error when a .xlsx file is double clicked in explorer or
> opened in Excel 2000.

Sounds like the conversion tool wasn't properly installed for Excel.

[Don P]

Thanks Jan.

I reinstalled the Office Compatibility Pack again and there is no
difference. I still cannot open a .xlsx file.

I would appreciate any ideas that anyone could give to correct this problem.

[Nick Hodge]

Don

Here are another couple of things to try

1) Ensure you are fully patched to SP3 (Office 2000)
2) Ensure you have no other earlier versions of Office, or Office
Applications on the machine (97, 95, 5, etc)

Bear in mind, as Jan Karel explained, in XL2000 you will need to
double-click the file in explorer

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
nick_hodge...@zen.co.ukANDTHIS
web: www.nickhodge.co.uk
blog (non tech): www.nickhodge.co.uk/blog

"Don P" <Do...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5B055763-80CD-453E...@microsoft.com...

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Don,

> I would appreciate any ideas that anyone could give to correct this problem.

Can you perhaps rightclick an xlsx file and select open with and try to find
the conversion tool manually? (no idea what it's called though)

[Don P]

Thanks for your help.

I made sure Office 2000 was updated before I loaded the Office Compatibility
Pack. Office 2000 was updated to SP-3.

I have never had any previous applications of Office on my PC, but my PC did
come with OneNote 2003 when I bought the compute new. I still have OneNote
2003 installed.

I have tried to open .xlsx files using the double click in Explorer and by
using the right click and select open with. I still get the error problem of,
'The file is not in a recognizable format'.

[Don P]

Thanks for your help.

I have tried to open .xlsx files using the double click in Explorer and by

using the right click and select open with. I still get the error problem of,

'The file is not in a recognizable format'.

[Nick Hodge]

Don

Mmmmmmm. I wonder if it is anything to do with OneNote? It should be OK but
if you have the OneNote disks I would try un-installing OneNote and then
apply the pack (make sure you re-boot before installing and after), try
Excel and then try re-installing OneNote.

If this doesn't work and you have the 2000 disk, try uninstalling this and
OneNote and on the 2000 disk you may find a program called something like
OffClean. Run this to clean everything up and then re-install 2000, install
OneNote and then the comp pack

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
nick_hodge...@zen.co.ukANDTHIS
web: www.nickhodge.co.uk
blog (non tech): www.nickhodge.co.uk/blog

"Don P" <Do...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:2FFF4C31-4398-4633...@microsoft.com...

[Don P]

I believe excelcnv.exe is the file name you were refering to.

In explorer, I opened the 'Folder Options' and made it so excelcnv.exe is
used to open a .xlsx file. Unfortunately, I still get the same error message.

[Don P]

I removed 2003 OneNote, rebooted, then reinstalled the Office Compatibility
Pack, and rebooted again.

Unfortunately, the problem continues.

I was not willing to remove Office 2000 because it was more hassle than I
was willing to go through just to see if it may solve my problem.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[lance....@gmail.com]

I am having the same issue with Office 2000. I have applied the patch
to my XP pro machine (Office 2003), and opened the same file without
any problems during conversion. However, on the 2000 machine, I get
'The file is not in a recognizable format' error. I am having the user
try to open a Word 2007 file right now to see if they get the same
error. Hope somebody finds a fix for this, I will post the solution if
I find it...

[lance....@gmail.com]

Just got the results from the user trying to open a Word 2007 file. He
had no problems opening it. I then thought that perhaps the original
file he opened was corrupt, so I sent him a few other .xlsx files,
however he still got 'The file is not in a recognizable format' error.
Back to the drawing board I guess...

[Don P]

Lance,

I know your frustration!

What I find more frustrating is that I can post the problem here on the
Microsoft’s website and they are no help.

If I post a problem on another software manufacturers website, I get that
problem resolved. Microsoft is getting too big. We need more competition so
Microsoft will have to get its act together.

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Don,

> What I find more frustrating is that I can post the problem here on the
> Microsoft’s website and they are no help.

Please note, that we're all volunteers here and that MSFT does not frequent
these newsgroups at all. MSFT only offers direct help through their support
channels.

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

> However, on the 2000 machine, I get
> 'The file is not in a recognizable format' error. I am having the user
> try to open a Word 2007 file right now to see if they get the same
> error. Hope somebody finds a fix for this, I will post the solution if
> I find it...

Sometimes an Excel 2007 may contain data that the conversion tool does not
accept. I know that some text that originates from Word and has been pasted
into Excel may cause this kind of problem.

I have once seen such a problem by opening the same file in Excel 2007 using
the "Open and repair" option. If Excel 2007 gives you any errors, the file will
not open with the conversion tool.

[Don P]

Jan,

I do appreciate the help you and Nick have offered.

Although, I quite frustrated with Microsoft.

[lance....@gmail.com]

Thank you to all who posted here! I think the most frustrating thing
for me is that I have used the conversion tool on two other PC's (one
XP, the other 2000), and didn't have ANY problems with it at all! I
even tried to open the very same files that were causing problems on
the other machine in question...

I'm curious, has anyone tried a repair install of Office?

[Brooks H]

I'm having the same issue.

Windows XP machine; Office 2002; had installed the compatablity tool awhile back; everything is fine.

Built a new 64-bit machine, Windows 7 professional, installed the Office 2002; all XLS files are fine and everything's working great.

Until I tried to open an xlsx file that opens fine on the XP machine.

Had already downloaded and installed SP3 for Office and all known/available updates are installed for everything. Installed the compatability pack. Went fine.

Still cannot open the xlsx file on the Win7 machine. :-<

I hope somebody can come up with some fix for this....

> On Wednesday, October 24, 2007 9:47 PM Don wrote:

> I have updated Windows XP and Office 2000 using Microsoft Update.
>

> Then I installed the Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and
> PowerPoint 2007 File Formats.
>
> Now I can open a .docx file with Word 2000 but I get the error 'The file is
> not in a recognizable format' when I open a .xlsx file with Excel 2000.
>

> How do I solve this error problem with Excel 2000?

>> On Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:36 AM Jan Karel Pieterse wrote:

>> Hi Don,
>>
>>

>> Does it work when the file is double clicked from within Explorer?
>>

>> Regards,
>>
>> Jan Karel Pieterse
>> Excel MVP
>> http://www.jkp-ads.com
>> Member of:
>> Professional Office Developer Association
>> www.proofficedev.com

>>> On Thursday, October 25, 2007 7:55 AM Don wrote:

>>> I get this same error when a .xlsx file is double clicked in explorer or
>>> opened in Excel 2000.
>>>

>>> "Jan Karel Pieterse" wrote:

>>>> On Friday, October 26, 2007 10:01 AM Jan Karel Pieterse wrote:

>>>> Hi Don,
>>>>
>>>>

>>>> Sounds like the conversion tool wasn't properly installed for Excel.
>>>>

>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Jan Karel Pieterse
>>>> Excel MVP
>>>> http://www.jkp-ads.com
>>>> Member of:
>>>> Professional Office Developer Association
>>>> www.proofficedev.com

>>>>> On Friday, October 26, 2007 5:01 PM Don wrote:

>>>>> Thanks Jan.
>>>>>
>>>>> I reinstalled the Office Compatibility Pack again and there is no
>>>>> difference. I still cannot open a .xlsx file.
>>>>>

>>>>> I would appreciate any ideas that anyone could give to correct this problem.

>>>>>> On Saturday, October 27, 2007 3:07 AM Nick Hodge wrote:

>>>>>> Don
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Here are another couple of things to try
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1) Ensure you are fully patched to SP3 (Office 2000)
>>>>>> 2) Ensure you have no other earlier versions of Office, or Office
>>>>>> Applications on the machine (97, 95, 5, etc)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bear in mind, as Jan Karel explained, in XL2000 you will need to
>>>>>> double-click the file in explorer
>>>>>>

>>>>>> --
>>>>>> HTH
>>>>>> Nick Hodge
>>>>>> Microsoft MVP - Excel
>>>>>> Southampton, England
>>>>>> nick_hodge...@zen.co.ukANDTHIS
>>>>>> web: www.nickhodge.co.uk
>>>>>> blog (non tech): www.nickhodge.co.uk/blog
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Don P" <Do...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>>>>>> news:5B055763-80CD-453E...@microsoft.com...

>>>>>>> On Saturday, October 27, 2007 5:59 AM Jan Karel Pieterse wrote:

>>>>>>> Hi Don,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>

>>>>>>> Can you perhaps rightclick an xlsx file and select open with and try to find
>>>>>>> the conversion tool manually? (no idea what it's called though)
>>>>>>>

>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jan Karel Pieterse
>>>>>>> Excel MVP
>>>>>>> http://www.jkp-ads.com
>>>>>>> Member of:
>>>>>>> Professional Office Developer Association
>>>>>>> www.proofficedev.com

>>>>>>>> On Saturday, October 27, 2007 5:06 PM Don wrote:

>>>>>>>> Thanks for your help.
>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>> I made sure Office 2000 was updated before I loaded the Office Compatibility
>>>>>>>> Pack. Office 2000 was updated to SP-3.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I have never had any previous applications of Office on my PC, but my PC did
>>>>>>>> come with OneNote 2003 when I bought the compute new. I still have OneNote
>>>>>>>> 2003 installed.
>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>> I have tried to open .xlsx files using the double click in Explorer and by
>>>>>>>> using the right click and select open with. I still get the error problem of,

>>>>>>>> 'The file is not in a recognizable format'.

>>>>>>>>> On Saturday, October 27, 2007 5:07 PM Don wrote:

>>>>>>>>> Thanks for your help.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have tried to open .xlsx files using the double click in Explorer and by
>>>>>>>>> using the right click and select open with. I still get the error problem of,

>>>>>>>>> 'The file is not in a recognizable format'.

>>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, October 28, 2007 4:25 AM Nick Hodge wrote:

>>>>>>>>>> Don
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Mmmmmmm. I wonder if it is anything to do with OneNote? It should be OK but
>>>>>>>>>> if you have the OneNote disks I would try un-installing OneNote and then
>>>>>>>>>> apply the pack (make sure you re-boot before installing and after), try
>>>>>>>>>> Excel and then try re-installing OneNote.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> If this doesn't work and you have the 2000 disk, try uninstalling this and
>>>>>>>>>> OneNote and on the 2000 disk you may find a program called something like
>>>>>>>>>> OffClean. Run this to clean everything up and then re-install 2000, install
>>>>>>>>>> OneNote and then the comp pack
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>> HTH
>>>>>>>>>> Nick Hodge
>>>>>>>>>> Microsoft MVP - Excel
>>>>>>>>>> Southampton, England
>>>>>>>>>> nick_hodge...@zen.co.ukANDTHIS
>>>>>>>>>> web: www.nickhodge.co.uk
>>>>>>>>>> blog (non tech): www.nickhodge.co.uk/blog
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> "Don P" <Do...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>>> news:2FFF4C31-4398-4633...@microsoft.com...

>>>>>>>>>>>> On Wednesday, November 07, 2007 5:58 PM Don wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>> I removed 2003 OneNote, rebooted, then reinstalled the Office Compatibility
>>>>>>>>>>>> Pack, and rebooted again.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Unfortunately, the problem continues.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I was not willing to remove Office 2000 because it was more hassle than I
>>>>>>>>>>>> was willing to go through just to see if it may solve my problem.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks for the suggestion!

>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Friday, November 30, 2007 5:55 PM Don wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lance,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I know your frustration!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>> What I find more frustrating is that I can post the problem here on the

>>>>>>>>>>>>> Microsoft???s website and they are no help.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> If I post a problem on another software manufacturers website, I get that
>>>>>>>>>>>>> problem resolved. Microsoft is getting too big. We need more competition so
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Microsoft will have to get its act together.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 02, 2007 3:59 AM lance.bauman wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Nov 7, 4:58 pm, Don P <D...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am having the same issue with Office 2000. I have applied the patch
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to my XP pro machine (Office 2003), and opened the same file without

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> any problems during conversion. However, on the 2000 machine, I get

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 'The file is not in a recognizable format' error. I am having the user
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> try to open a Word 2007 file right now to see if they get the same
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> error. Hope somebody finds a fix for this, I will post the solution if
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I find it...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 02, 2007 5:19 AM Jan Karel Pieterse wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sometimes an Excel 2007 may contain data that the conversion tool does not
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> accept. I know that some text that originates from Word and has been pasted
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> into Excel may cause this kind of problem.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have once seen such a problem by opening the same file in Excel 2007 using
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the "Open and repair" option. If Excel 2007 gives you any errors, the file will
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not open with the conversion tool.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jan Karel Pieterse
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Excel MVP
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.jkp-ads.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Member of:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Professional Office Developer Association
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> www.proofficedev.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 02, 2007 5:19 AM Jan Karel Pieterse wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi Don,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Please note, that we're all volunteers here and that MSFT does not frequent
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> these newsgroups at all. MSFT only offers direct help through their support
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> channels.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jan Karel Pieterse
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Excel MVP
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.jkp-ads.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Member of:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Professional Office Developer Association
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> www.proofficedev.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 02, 2007 4:39 PM Don wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jan,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I do appreciate the help you and Nick have offered.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Although, I quite frustrated with Microsoft.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Submitted via EggHeadCafe
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Microsoft ASP.NET For Beginners
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.eggheadcafe.com/training-topic-area/ASP-NET/7/ASP.aspx

[Brooks H]

I found my own solution! Even though I had installed SP3 and thought all possible updates were done, I went into Windows Update and managed to find another little obscure thing to click on to "check for updates on other products" or something like that - I intended to save the link but it won't let me back there now. It found 27 more Office XP updates that I thought were all already installed.

I uninstalled the compatability pack (from Control Panel -> programs -> Uninstall) and then applied these other 27 updates, restarted the machine when it asked, then reinstalled the compatability pack and VOILA! It works just as good as the XP machine! All xlsx files can now magically be opened! (;->)

I am, once again, a happy camper.

Submitted via EggHeadCafe
Microsoft LINQ Query Samples For Beginners
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/training-topic-area/LINQ-Standard-Query-Operators/33/LINQ-Standard-Query-Operators.aspx

[teb...@gmail.com]

Hi all,
I had trouble with this one on my wife's laptop running 64bit Windows 7 and Office 2000. You must right click the .xlsx file when in Explorer and choose 'Open With'. If there are no options listed or it lists Office it's a good sign it has the same problem I came across. Mine was blank. Choose 'Browse'. Navigate to \PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\Moc.exe. In a 64bit PC you'll find it in the (x86) directory. Your PC may be a different directory structure than mine so do a search for Moc.exe if you can't find it. Check the box 'Always use...' and click ok. I'm guessing when installing the XML Converter it failed to find the file in (x86) because it assumed it was 64 bit. When browsing it's difficult unless you know what file to choose. Once you've set this up if you revisit the 'Open With' you'll find it is now populated with recommended programs and other programs.
Hope this helps a few people. I couldn't find a solution on Google but I noticed lots of people searching for the answer.

[teb...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, 25 October 2007 12:47:00 UTC+11, Don P wrote:

After being able to open the files I found it difficult to edit and save them.

The easiest way I've found to do this is to save all .xlsx files to a directory in Windows Explorer. Select all files and right click the selection. Choose 'save as' with the .xls option. All the files to save will be listed in the task bar at the bottom now. Click OK for each to save each file until all files are saved in the 2000 format. Their names will be preserved with the 2000 extension.

You can now open all the .xls files and edit them with Office 2000. Anything 2000 doesn't understand about 2007 will be lost in this process.

If you need to send these files back in .xlsx format do the same process only this time select all .xls files and save as .xlsx. In this case the drop down has a few more save as options all for 2007.

If you were to double click a 2007 .xlsx file it converts and displays as a read only file to preserve the original. This is not a good thing to do as it leaves temporary files and it's difficult to save while preserving the original name. It's the same deal for Power Point.

Documents are treated differently and can be opened directly. For them opening directly is the preferred way to do it.

This is the way it's designed to be done for XL and Power Point so it preserves the original 2007 file. The other option is to buy 2007 or 2010.

Note that I'm using Office 2000. I believe 2003 may treat things differently.