Create Excel document on MAC and e-mail it but users can not open

[TMS]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

I am new to the MAC world. I purchased Excel 2008 for MAC and have created an excel document. I save it in the format "Excel 97-2004 Workbook (.xls) and send it. When I send it to myself it opens fine on my MACbook but for Window user doesn't see it as a .xls file. They are asked to only open attachments from a trustworthy source, if they click "open" you choose a program - I chose :"XML editor". again a security warning and then it opens in the web browser. The person then has to save it as an excel to do any work on it. Is there not an easier way?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

I am new to the MAC world. I purchased Excel 2008 for MAC and have created an
excel document. I save it in the format "Excel 97-2004 Workbook (.xls) and
send it. When I send it to myself it opens fine on my MACbook but for Window
user doesn't see it as a .xls file. They are asked to only open attachments
from a trustworthy source, if they click "open" you choose a program - I
chose :"XML editor". again a security warning and then it opens in the web
browser. The person then has to save it as an excel to do any work on it. Is
there not an easier way?

First, as you'll discover after using your Mac a bit more, "Mac" is the
appropriate spelling - "MAC" more commonly standing for "Media Access
Code".

Are you saving the files with the ".xls" extension? While WinXL can open
the files fine, Windows itself doesn't necessarily know how to determine
which application to use without the extension -- hence it asking for
"XML editor" (which probably doesn't have a clue what to do with it),
not "Microsoft Excel"

Also, make sure you've set your email application to encode attachments
as Apple Double.

Finally, if you're still having problems, try compressing/archiving the
file.


Note that your Windows user really should NOT be trying to open the file
directly within his email client, but should be saving the file locally.
Many, if not most, corporate IT configurations prevent opening files
directly from the network or temporary local storage. But that's his/her
problem, not yours.

 

[tms]

Thank you for your reply! When I was saving the document in the "Format" box it did list "Excel 97-2004 Workbook (.xls)" so I assumed it was saying it with that extension ("append file extension" box was checked).

When I send the file to my desktop Windows computer (I am stilling parallel until I get up to speed on how to make the switch) The e-mail shows and "xls" attachment and the message when doubled clicked is "Attachment: File Name.xls from forcing a xls - Message (HTML)." It opens in excel fine now (after saving it).

Thank you very much for your assistance. One more question then...I should always add the ".xls" to my file names when I save them correct? This would also include any Word Document .. add ".doc"

Thank you in advance

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Thank you very much for your assistance. One more question then...I should
always add the ".xls" to my file names when I save them correct? This would
also include any Word Document .. add ".doc"

If you're sharing between Windows and Mac, then yeah, that's easiest.
It's not strictly necessary, but it wil help the Win users to not have
to explicitly set their file associations.

 

[CyberTaz]

Depending on how you're "sending" to the Win system the extension may be
removed - some browser versions & email apps will do that. If you want to be
even more protective zip the file before attaching so that the intermediary
handlers of the file can't tamper with it.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac