I have an old MS Works Database file that was copied from an old computer
and I need to convert it so I can read it in Access, Excel, or even a text
file. The Works file extension is .wdb.

TIA,
Gregg

Did you try to open the file in Excel?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


"Gregg" <gregg_k9********.com> wrote in message
news:u16K0n2FIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I have an old MS Works Database file that was copied from an old computer
>and I need to convert it so I can read it in Access, Excel, or even a text
>file. The Works file extension is .wdb.
>
> TIA,
> Gregg
>

Yes, but it won't open, Microsoft says that Excel 2000 and later won't open
early version Works files, they need to be saved as an Excel file in Works
Database first. That wouldn't be a problem except this person doesn't have
the Works software as it came preloaded on her old computer.

"JoAnn Paules" <jl_paules@hotnospammail.com> wrote in message
news:FCCF637E-26B3-4914-B9F4-90301559D253@microsoft.com...
> Did you try to open the file in Excel?
>
> --
>
> JoAnn Paules
> MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
>
> ~~~~~
> How to ask a question
> http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
>
>
> "Gregg" <gregg_k9********.com> wrote in message
> news:u16K0n2FIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>I have an old MS Works Database file that was copied from an old computer
>>and I need to convert it so I can read it in Access, Excel, or even a text
>>file. The Works file extension is .wdb.
>>
>> TIA,
>> Gregg
>>
>

Start asking your friends. I'm sure one of them has Works installed on their
system. If you can't find someone by the 7:30 EST, email me privately and
let me know. I can do it on one of the computers at home.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


"Gregg" <gregg_k9********.com> wrote in message
news:uUL5o03FIHA.4684@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Yes, but it won't open, Microsoft says that Excel 2000 and later won't
> open early version Works files, they need to be saved as an Excel file in
> Works Database first. That wouldn't be a problem except this person
> doesn't have the Works software as it came preloaded on her old computer.
>
> "JoAnn Paules" <jl_paules@hotnospammail.com> wrote in message
> news:FCCF637E-26B3-4914-B9F4-90301559D253@microsoft.com...
>> Did you try to open the file in Excel?
>>
>> --
>>
>> JoAnn Paules
>> MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
>>
>> ~~~~~
>> How to ask a question
>> http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
>>
>>
>> "Gregg" <gregg_k9********.com> wrote in message
>> news:u16K0n2FIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>I have an old MS Works Database file that was copied from an old computer
>>>and I need to convert it so I can read it in Access, Excel, or even a
>>>text file. The Works file extension is .wdb.
>>>
>>> TIA,
>>> Gregg
>>>
>>
>
>

i have a similar problem and found no file option in several editions of
ms works data base.
i need answers from someone who has actually done this conversion
successfully.
THANKS MELBOB
PS. IT SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT MICROSOFT TRIES TO INCLUDE A COPY OF
WORKS IN EVERY SALE OF WINDOWS ( ALL EDITIONS ) AND THEN DOES NOT
PROVIDE A MEANS OF CONVERTING BETWEEN THIER TWO SYSTEMS.
DATA BASES FROM OTHER PROGRAMS "D-BASE" - "FOXPRO" AND OTHERS WILL
EASILY TRANSLATE BACK AND FORTH WITH WORKS BUT YOU CANNOT GO BETWEEN THE
2 MICROSOFT PROGRAMS.


--
MELBOBL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MELBOBL's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/135934.htm
View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/ms-office-support/839624.htm

http://forums.techarena.in

Sorry but Microsoft has NEVER provided MS Works with ANY sale of
Windows, EVER.

MELBOBL wrote:

> i have a similar problem and found no file option in several editions of
> ms works data base.
> i need answers from someone who has actually done this conversion
> successfully.
> THANKS MELBOB
> PS. IT SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT MICROSOFT TRIES TO INCLUDE A COPY OF
> WORKS IN EVERY SALE OF WINDOWS ( ALL EDITIONS ) AND THEN DOES NOT
> PROVIDE A MEANS OF CONVERTING BETWEEN THIER TWO SYSTEMS.
> DATA BASES FROM OTHER PROGRAMS "D-BASE" - "FOXPRO" AND OTHERS WILL
> EASILY TRANSLATE BACK AND FORTH WITH WORKS BUT YOU CANNOT GO BETWEEN THE
> 2 MICROSOFT PROGRAMS.
>
>

> PS. IT SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT MICROSOFT TRIES TO INCLUDE A COPY OF
> WORKS IN EVERY SALE OF WINDOWS ( ALL EDITIONS )

Some vendors include Works along with the other software they bundle with
the computers they sell. MS doesn't include it with Windows.

> PROVIDE A MEANS OF CONVERTING BETWEEN THIER TWO SYSTEMS.
> DATA BASES FROM OTHER PROGRAMS "D-BASE" - "FOXPRO" AND OTHERS WILL
> EASILY TRANSLATE BACK AND FORTH WITH WORKS BUT YOU CANNOT GO BETWEEN THE
> 2 MICROSOFT PROGRAMS.

It's been several computer-geological ages since I last looked at Works,
but at the time it was easy to save a database to tab-delimited or comma
separated value format, and nearly all database programs (and Excel) will
read those.