Cannot open .xls/.doc e-mail attachments

[hans75]

I am running Windows 98 on my home computer, with Office 97 installed. On any
e-mails that I receive (running Outlook Express) with a .xls or .doc
attachment, when I try to open the attachment either Excel or Word launches,
respectively, but I get a window saying, for example, "Roster01.xls: file
format is not valid". In this case, Roster01.xls is the name of the file. If
I forward that same e-mail to my work e-mail address, the file opens right
up. I would like to be able to view and print these files from my home
computer. Suggestions?

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

What version of Office do you use at work? Could it be because you are using
Office 97 at home?

 

[Mary Sauer]

XL97: "File Format Not Valid" Appears Opening Routed Workbook
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;163102

There are viewers for Excel and Word.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/results.aspx?freetext=viewer&productID=&DisplayLang=en

 

[hans75]

I do have a newer version of Office at my work computer, and am quite sure
that's why I can open the files there. I thought any Office/Excel/Word
version or files generated in them should be compatible with any other
version. Sounds like these Microsoft product versions won't "talk" to each
other after all, and that makes no sense to me.

What version of Office do you use at work? Could it be because you are using
Office 97 at home?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

I am running Windows 98 on my home computer, with Office 97 installed. On
any
e-mails that I receive (running Outlook Express) with a .xls or .doc
attachment, when I try to open the attachment either Excel or Word
launches,
respectively, but I get a window saying, for example, "Roster01.xls: file
format is not valid". In this case, Roster01.xls is the name of the file.
If
I forward that same e-mail to my work e-mail address, the file opens right
up. I would like to be able to view and print these files from my home
computer. Suggestions?

 

[Bob I]

The 97 version could have no way of knowing how a later version (say
2000) formatted the files. The files would have to be saved in the NEW
version as an EARLIER version file if you want to read it using the
earlier version of the program.

I do have a newer version of Office at my work computer, and am quite sure
that's why I can open the files there. I thought any Office/Excel/Word
version or files generated in them should be compatible with any other
version. Sounds like these Microsoft product versions won't "talk" to each
other after all, and that makes no sense to me.

:

What version of Office do you use at work? Could it be because you are using
Office 97 at home?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

I am running Windows 98 on my home computer, with Office 97 installed. On
any
e-mails that I receive (running Outlook Express) with a .xls or .doc
attachment, when I try to open the attachment either Excel or Word
launches,
respectively, but I get a window saying, for example, "Roster01.xls: file
format is not valid". In this case, Roster01.xls is the name of the file.
If
I forward that same e-mail to my work e-mail address, the file opens right
up. I would like to be able to view and print these files from my home
computer. Suggestions?