We have users that we are distributing compound reports to in EXL2K format. Some of those users however are using Excel 2004 for MAC on OSX.

Mac Office doesn't seem to support the .xht webfocus exl2k file format. Can anyone suggest a solution to be able to send a compound report to a MAC user either in excel format or something else?

Thanks
Ken

Ken you have the same issue as Open Office
Check the forum but your only option is to convert the file to a real .xls binary

Ken,

As per JG's suggestion, converting to "real" .xls format is your best option. Depending upon how you distribute your files, I use a VBScript to save files as pukka .xls format before the users get their hands on it (them), happy to supply a suitable script for you.

T

Tony,

Post an article, "Enabling WebFocus EXL2K to Mac Office, Open Office and any other none MS xls user"

JG,

If only I had the time

T

VB script in case anyone wants it is -

Remember, you use this at your own risk!!

  On Error Resume Next
  const xlNormal = 1
  Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
  if Err.Number <> 0 then
    Wscript.Echo "Excel application not installed."
    Wscript.Quit
  end if
 
  Set objBook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open("\\electra\C$\userinfo\R1378_Data\R1378.xls")
  objExcel.DisplayAlerts = False
  objExcel.ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs objBook.FullName, xlNormal
  objExcel.DisplayAlerts = True
  objBook.Close
 
  objExcel.Quit
  Set objBook = Nothing
  Set objExcel = Nothing

Tony,

That's client side?

Issue. If you can not open the document then you can not run the script.

I think the cheap third party convert to xls binary and present
using -HTMLFORM approach is best.

JG,

No, it's server side (could be either). I write it out to a temporary vbs file and as the last part of the fex I execute the script. It does require Excel on the server of course and you can always get the script to erase itself on completion. The downside is that you need to write to a network drive but a small overhead if it means you can still get the output that you want.

T

Tony,

Rules out any server other than Windows, and most companies do not install
the Office suite or even a single part of it on a server.

Go for the third party solution.

quote:

Rules out any server other than Windows

Very true, but as Ken hasn't updated his signature to identify server platform and release (Ken - hint!!) then there is an expectation of either no relavant replies or a few gentle reminders on the signature

The workaround I used at my current Client was to kick the VBScript process off on a windows machine that had Excel installed using AT or the newer alternative. A bit hammer and nut situation but it worked until we were given the go ahead to install Excel on the server. Most, if not all, of the workbooks requiring the VBScript treatment are generated within RC processes but for end user delivery I just write Macros into the workbooks that performs a similar function as the script - not possible from non Excel apps like open office I know, but usually delivers a 2/3 space saving over the xht format.

As you say, if you can't use the VBScripts then the third party method is the way to go.

T

What about something like this, this creates an xls file:

SET PAGE=NOLEAD
-RUN

TABLE FILE CAR
SUM SALES
ACROSS BODYTYPE AS ''
BY COUNTRY
BY MODEL

HEADING
"Car Sales"
" "

ON TABLE SET HTMLCSS ON
ON TABLE HOLD AS H001 FORMAT HTML

ON TABLE SET STYLE *
TYPE=REPORT, FONT='Arial', SIZE=10, COLOR=BLACK, STYLE=NORMAL, GRID=OFF, $
TYPE=HEADING, COLOR=NAVY, STYLE=BOLD, SIZE=11, $
TYPE=TITLE, COLOR=BLUE, STYLE=BOLD, $
TYPE=ACROSSVALUE, COLOR=BLUE, STYLE=BOLD, $
ENDSTYLE
END
-RUN

SET HTMLFORMTYPE=XLS
-RUN
-HTMLFORM H001

Francis,

One thing Ken did ask was compound Excel. Does your process work with compounds?

T

Tony, I neglected testing this for compound Excel reports, sorry! As well, since MS Excel 2003 or greater is a requirement for Compound Excel reports, perhaps my suggestion is not even relevant.

Francis, yes the problem is you cannot create the compound documents in HTML,
and as I said in the Open Office tread, i'ts still an HTML document with a .xls
extension not a binary.