Here at work someone wants to work with their home computer and bring back Excel files. Their home computer is running Microsoft XP, and here we are running Microsoft Windows 98.

We just purchased Microsoft Office 2003 package (For XP) due to the Windows 98 version of Excel would not load into the XP environment.

My question is if a file is created, or modified in the Excel XP version, would it be able to run in the Windows 98 version?

I am guessing that a Windows 98 file would run in XP (upward compatible) but I have doubts if an XP file would work in Windows 98. (Reverse compatible)
I do not want to open the software until I am sure. (If it will not work we will return it)

Thank you.

While not an expert, I have Win95 here at work and win98 at home using Office 2000.

My work pc would not open Excel files from home, but home would open Excel files from work.

Now when I work at home, I use the "Save As" file to save it for MS Excel 95. The file now can be open by both system. The newer Excel will open all old files but the old can not open newer versions. If saved normally, it will save it in the most current version.

Once again, I am not an expert. I don't Think operating system should effect it.

Before investing $$, try to save it for the older format. A data file is a data file. Just depends on how they are saved I guess.

I believe that if the file was started at work, '98, it should open at home on XP. Just besure you don't save it as an newrer version. My ask me if I want to save it updated when I save. Just say no.

Hope this helps. Try it, Couldn't hurt.

Koz, you can use the "save as" feature in the file menu of Excel and save the document in a previous version. This will allow that person to use the file at home and can then upgrade the file to the latest version when they return to work. Word and Powerpoint work the same way. Just make sure it is saved as the same version of excel that they have at home.

Koz - There is not actually a 'Windows 98 version' of Excel. There are Office 97, Office 2000, Office XP, and Office 2003 versions (as well as several earlier ones, of course). Please click Help --> About Microsoft Excel, and let us know which version you have. I have a couple versions of Excel, so I may be able to check for you depending on which version your older version is.

Thanks folks.

I checked the one running here. It is Excel 97. (Running in Windows 98 OS)
The one we just purchased was Office 2003. (For Windows XP)
By using the “save as” feature I think it should work fine.
Thanks, WoW, Kwll, & Methos, I appreciate it .

they beat me to it

i was gonna say save as too

i notice on newer versions now,
save as an older version and newer version,
on one choice combining both worlds

(to create a good habit, i try to use
save as all the time, like in Word rich text)

[This message was edited by Karrow on 02-28-04 at 02:47 PM.]