unable to read file with "xlw" extension

[namsilat]

I have an old but very important file with a "xlw" extension which I
cannot open with Excel. When I tried to open it, some error message
came up indicating the file cannot be accessed, as though the file is
not there. Any idea?

[JE McGimpsey]

Sounds like a workspace file, which contains information about
workbooks, but not the workbooks themselves. So the workbook files may
not be able to be accessed... You'll need to find the workbook files.

From XL Help ("Save a group of workbooks in a customized workspace")

> You can open a group of workbooks in one step by creating a workspace
> file. A workspace file saves information about all open workbooks,
> such as their locations, window sizes, and screen positions. When you
> open a workspace file by using the Open command (File menu),
> Microsoft Excel opens each workbook saved in the workspace. The
> workspace file does not contain the workbooks themselves, and you
> must continue to save changes you make to the individual workbooks.

IIRC, *very* old (e.g., XL4) workspaces saved worksheets in the .xlw
file, but more recent versions should be able to open those.


In article <[email protected]>,
namsilat <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have an old but very important file with a "xlw" extension which I
> cannot open with Excel. When I tried to open it, some error message
> came up indicating the file cannot be accessed, as though the file is
> not there. Any idea?

[namsilat]

that may explain it... from the property the file was created in 1999.
It also says "compressed". The error I received happened when I tried
to open it using Eexcel on XP machine. I tried opening it on another
machine running Windows 98 SE with Excel 97, and another file name
poped up, except I have no idea what this other file is.



On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 14:31:44 -0600, JE McGimpsey
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Sounds like a workspace file, which contains information about
>workbooks, but not the workbooks themselves. So the workbook files may
>not be able to be accessed... You'll need to find the workbook files.
>
>From XL Help ("Save a group of workbooks in a customized workspace")
>
>> You can open a group of workbooks in one step by creating a workspace
>> file. A workspace file saves information about all open workbooks,
>> such as their locations, window sizes, and screen positions. When you
>> open a workspace file by using the Open command (File menu),
>> Microsoft Excel opens each workbook saved in the workspace. The
>> workspace file does not contain the workbooks themselves, and you
>> must continue to save changes you make to the individual workbooks.
>
>IIRC, *very* old (e.g., XL4) workspaces saved worksheets in the .xlw
>file, but more recent versions should be able to open those.
>
>
>In article <[email protected]>,
> namsilat <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I have an old but very important file with a "xlw" extension which I
>> cannot open with Excel. When I tried to open it, some error message
>> came up indicating the file cannot be accessed, as though the file is
>> not there. Any idea?

[Art Farrell]

Hi,

It's probably an Excel workbook created with Excel 4.0. This used the older
macro language and the worksheets and macro sheets were all tabs in the same
workbook, similar to what the .xls files are now except the macros are in
the VBE. I have about 20 old .XLW files and I can open them with W98 and
Excel 2000. If I can help you to open the file you can send it to me.

CHORDially,
Art Farrell


"namsilat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> that may explain it... from the property the file was created in 1999.
> It also says "compressed". The error I received happened when I tried
> to open it using Eexcel on XP machine. I tried opening it on another
> machine running Windows 98 SE with Excel 97, and another file name
> poped up, except I have no idea what this other file is.
>
>
>
> On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 14:31:44 -0600, JE McGimpsey
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Sounds like a workspace file, which contains information about
> >workbooks, but not the workbooks themselves. So the workbook files may
> >not be able to be accessed... You'll need to find the workbook files.
> >
> >From XL Help ("Save a group of workbooks in a customized workspace")
> >
> >> You can open a group of workbooks in one step by creating a workspace
> >> file. A workspace file saves information about all open workbooks,
> >> such as their locations, window sizes, and screen positions. When you
> >> open a workspace file by using the Open command (File menu),
> >> Microsoft Excel opens each workbook saved in the workspace. The
> >> workspace file does not contain the workbooks themselves, and you
> >> must continue to save changes you make to the individual workbooks.
> >
> >IIRC, *very* old (e.g., XL4) workspaces saved worksheets in the .xlw
> >file, but more recent versions should be able to open those.
> >
> >
> >In article <[email protected]>,
> > namsilat <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> I have an old but very important file with a "xlw" extension which I
> >> cannot open with Excel. When I tried to open it, some error message
> >> came up indicating the file cannot be accessed, as though the file is
> >> not there. Any idea?
>