G
Gene
I'm evaluating Excel 2004 for Mac (i.e. Test Drive), while my co-workers
are using Excel 2003 SP2 for Windows.
So far, Excel 2004 for Mac doesn't appear to be compatible with the
Excel 2003 files, so I'm not inclined to buy it.
Are these products built using a different code base?
Due diligence: My co-workers have patched their Excel 2003 several
times (hence SP2) .. so .. I tried to ensure that I have the latest
patches for the Mac Test Drive, but that version doesn't accept patches
(apparently) so I have what came from
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.aspx?pid=office2004td
Here's my experience:
--
My responses are in the [Square Brackets] below.
Step 1: I attempt Opening "File1.xls" (Open As Copy). Popup window
advises the workbook contains macros. [Enable Macros]
Excel says: "The workbook you opened contains automatic links to
information in another workbook. Do you want to update this workbook
with changes made to the other workbooks?" [Edit Links]
*** (many - perhaps a dozen - Visual Basic (?) diagnostic windows
appear, but only when using Excel 2004 for Mac Test Drive) ***
Step 2: [Links] window appears, atop the diag windows. I click [Change
Source] or [Update Now] and attempt pointing to the appropriate
File2.xls file - in the same directory - but it is GREYED OUT and cannot
be selected (I checked the permissions in Finder - "Get Info": they're
Read/Write). My only option is [Cancel]. Error window says:
"Micosoft Excel cannot calculate a formula. There is a circular
reference in an open workbook, but the references that caused it cannot
be listed for you. Try editing the last formula you entered or removing
it with the Undo command (Edit menu). [OK]
Step 3: at this point, it's so locked up that my only recourse is to do
a [Force Quit] of Excel-for-Mac.
are using Excel 2003 SP2 for Windows.
So far, Excel 2004 for Mac doesn't appear to be compatible with the
Excel 2003 files, so I'm not inclined to buy it.
Are these products built using a different code base?
Due diligence: My co-workers have patched their Excel 2003 several
times (hence SP2) .. so .. I tried to ensure that I have the latest
patches for the Mac Test Drive, but that version doesn't accept patches
(apparently) so I have what came from
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.aspx?pid=office2004td
Here's my experience:
--
My responses are in the [Square Brackets] below.
Step 1: I attempt Opening "File1.xls" (Open As Copy). Popup window
advises the workbook contains macros. [Enable Macros]
Excel says: "The workbook you opened contains automatic links to
information in another workbook. Do you want to update this workbook
with changes made to the other workbooks?" [Edit Links]
*** (many - perhaps a dozen - Visual Basic (?) diagnostic windows
appear, but only when using Excel 2004 for Mac Test Drive) ***
Step 2: [Links] window appears, atop the diag windows. I click [Change
Source] or [Update Now] and attempt pointing to the appropriate
File2.xls file - in the same directory - but it is GREYED OUT and cannot
be selected (I checked the permissions in Finder - "Get Info": they're
Read/Write). My only option is [Cancel]. Error window says:
"Micosoft Excel cannot calculate a formula. There is a circular
reference in an open workbook, but the references that caused it cannot
be listed for you. Try editing the last formula you entered or removing
it with the Undo command (Edit menu). [OK]
Step 3: at this point, it's so locked up that my only recourse is to do
a [Force Quit] of Excel-for-Mac.