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XL98: Workbooks Saved in Earlier Formats May Open Slowly

Article ID: 183381

Article Last Modified on 9/11/2002

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q183381

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 98, when you open a workbook that has been saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format, the workbook may open more slowly than a similar workbook that is saved in the Microsoft Excel 98 Workbook format.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the workbook you are opening contains one or more Visual Basic modules.

Specifically, the problem occurs when you open a workbook that contains modules and that has been saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format. When you open this kind of workbook, Microsoft Excel 98 must load additional supporting files into memory. These supporting files convert the workbook's modules and move them into the Visual Basic Editor in Microsoft Excel 98.

WORKAROUND

To ensure that Excel opens workbooks that contain modules as quickly as possible, save them in the Microsoft Excel 98 Workbook format. Microsoft Excel 98 does not have to convert workbooks that you save in this format when you open them.

To save a workbook in the Microsoft Excel 98 Workbook format, follow these steps:
  1. Switch to the workbook. If the workbook is not already open, open it.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As.
  3. In the Save File as Type list box, click Microsoft Excel Workbook (the top item in the list).
  4. If you want to, change the name of the workbook in the File Name box.
  5. Click Save.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 98.

MORE INFORMATION

When you open a workbook that is saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook format in Microsoft Excel 98, any modules in the workbook are converted and moved into the Visual Basic Editor. This process increases the amount of time that Excel requires to open the workbook.

Workbooks saved in the Microsoft Excel 98 Workbook format are already optimized for this process. As a result, Excel opens them more quickly than workbooks that are saved in the earlier workbook format.

Additional query words: XL98 5.0

Keywords: kbprb KB183381


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