Question

Convert a Lotus 123 file (.wks) file to Excel (.xls or .csv)

Asked by: emoreau

Hi

I have to automate a process in which I receive a Lotus 123 file (.wks) file to an Excel format (.xls or .csv).

I cannot rely on using Lotus and/or Excel as neither will be installed on the server where the process will run (and this is not an option).

Does anybody knows a magic trick?

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Asked On
2009-06-18 at 12:06:37ID24503713
Topics

Microsoft Visual Basic.Net

,

Microsoft Visual C#.Net

,

C# Programming Language

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
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Answers

 

by: PaulHewsPosted on 2009-06-18 at 12:16:14ID: 24660839

No magic from me... :)

Open source:

http://projects.gnome.org/gnumeric/

There is a windows installer available... Has a command line conversion tool (ssconvert) that may do the job.

Pay but free to try:

http://www.qweas.com/download/converters/document_converters/cz_excel_converter.htm

 

by: abelPosted on 2009-06-18 at 12:21:02ID: 24660864

but wks (lotus) is external to excel and csv is external to excel too, yet both can be read and imported i excel directly...

If you need to do this without either of the tools, you can consider looking up the open source code of OpenOffice Calc, it contains a filter for wks as well and it is probably not too hard to extract only this part of the software to use it for yourself (not sure if the OO license allows such actions though).

I couldn't find out whether this ActiveX control actually needs Office installed, perhaps it does, but it doesn't explicitly say so: http://www.softinterface.com/Convert-Excel-ActiveX%5CConvert-Excel-ActiveX.htm

 

by: emoreauPosted on 2009-06-18 at 17:40:54ID: 24663006

the gnumeric project and its ssconvert batch tool look promising. I have downloaded it, tried it. It returns an error but at least it seems to convert the file. I have already posted a bug about the ssconvert problem.

cz_excel_converter does not work and I don't know why!

the tool from SoftInterface can only export to WKS (I need to import).

I'll keep you posted.

 

by: abelPosted on 2009-06-18 at 17:45:42ID: 24663029

Hmm, you are right, I should read more carefully, it's in their headline: "Convert to/from Excel to many              file types including CSV, XML, HTM, TXT, SLK, DBF, Lotus, WKS (only                    to wks) and              others. See below for listing."

sorry for bothering you with incorrect info.

 

by: emoreauPosted on 2009-06-19 at 05:00:11ID: 24665522

I just found that Gnumeric has a GNUGPL license and the client doesn't allow that (they surely don't understand want the license means).

 

by: emoreauPosted on 2009-06-19 at 05:03:43ID: 24665542

I you find a commercial product (so that they can spend money!) that does that in batch mode (or a component I can use from an application), let me know.

 

by: abelPosted on 2009-06-19 at 05:35:20ID: 24665715

If they really want to spend money, I wouldn't mind building it ;-). There's enough known and written about the formats and if you want, I can ask an outrageous price to make your client happy ;-) ...

Maybe Amber is something for you: http://www.soft32.com/download_19151.html

-- Abel --

 

by: emoreauPosted on 2009-06-19 at 05:45:40ID: 24665800

.wks are not supported in Amber's software

 

by: abelPosted on 2009-06-19 at 05:54:32ID: 24665871

sorry for my ignorance, I thought wk1 (as said with the software) was similar, I assume that's an older version. I shouldn't meddle with questions I know little about (Excel ok, Lotus no...), lol.

Just continuing my ignorance: if wk3, wk4, 123, wr1 or any other format is compatible, here's an updated link which shows they do support quite a plethora of Lotus 1-2-3 formats. Apparently, the software is still being maintained and updated: http://www.processtext.com/abclotus.html

 

by: emoreauPosted on 2009-06-19 at 06:18:41ID: 24666024

I don't really know about the history of the .wk* files. The thing I am sure is that I have installed the trial and when I try to open a file, the open file dialog has a filter to .wk1, .wk2, .wk3 and that filter can't be changed.

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