Can't access macros and sheets in really old Excel files

[ERE]

I am working with a collection of Excel files that are about 15 years old - Mac version 3.4 or something. The files appear to have macros and hidden sheets in them and they are linked to one another by cell formulas. (A master sheet in one file is visible and has cell formulas showing links to other files that don't display anything.) My current goal is to determine the algorithms built into these files. I'm currently using Excel 2000 and am unable to see the macros and hidden sheets. Any suggestions on how to make this stuff visible?

 

[pmover]

from within excel,
1) activate the VBA basic editor
2) activate the VBA Project and Properties windows.
3) within the VBA Project window, there should be a list of sheets in workbook. select the hidden sheet.
4) in properties window, investigate the visible property status. if xlveryhidden, change to visible and switch back to excel and sheet should now be visible.
5) check other sheets and proceed onward.

whether or not this capability is available for previous version of excel using current versions of excel, i do not know.

hope this helps.
good luck!
-pmover

 

[IRstuff]

Prior to Excel 5?, macros were directly implemented on a worksheet.

TTFN

 

[zappedagain]

Wow, and I only remember multiple sheets in a workbook showing up as a feature in the last eight years or so. Before that an Excel file was only one sheet.

Try opening it after selecting an older file type in the <File><Open> dialog before you open it.

 

[ERE]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for your comments... I'm just getting back to this problem after a couple of weeks of other things more pressing issues.

pmover: the workbooks do appear in the VB Project Manager and the visible property for the sheets in the "not visible" workbooks are set to "xlsheetvisible." No sheets are displayed for those files... The date on the one worksheet I can see is 9/11/1991.

IRstuff: I recall that that is true... I'm not sure I'd know what to do with them even if I could see them. I imagine the code would look very different from the current VBA that we all know and love.

zappedagain: Great suggestion, I hadn't thought of doing that. Unfortunately, no luck with that either.

I'm thinking we'll probably have to recreate the work... Thanks again for your suggestions.

Ed

 

[pmover]

ok,

couple of things to check:
- after changing property, switch back to excel and select Format-Sheet-Unhide. if unhide is grayed out, then sheet is visible.
- at bottom left of excel window are filled triangles (forgot the name) similar to buttons on vcr's, tape players, dvd players, etc. right click and the list of sheets will be listed.

perhaps the sheet is unhidden, but one needs to get the sheet displayed.

good luck!
-pmover

 

[ERE]

Eureka! I have to unhide the window. Window - Unhide...

Boy, this code sure looks funny... Thanks for your help.

Ed

 

[pmover]

ere,

funny . . .!! well, paste the code and i'm certain someone MAY translate it for you to VBA or write a description of what the code does.

good luck!
-pmover