CALLING ALL TECHIES

[GlytchMeister]

I need to know what kind of file type works on both Excel and whatever Apple computers work!

Mom is having a tech crisis with her job with my technologically-challenged aunt who for some rediculous reason decided using a Macintosh when the rest of the organization she works for uses PC's was a good idea.

I know about jack shit about Macintosh. Help.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I need to know what kind of file type works on both Excel and whatever Apple computers work!

Mom is having a tech crisis with her job with my technologically-challenged aunt who for some rediculous reason decided using a Macintosh when the rest of the organization she works for uses PC's was a good idea.

I know about jack shit about Macintosh. Help.

LibreOfficeCalc can run both Excel and can run on Mac/Win/Linux. And is free.

[jwhouk]

Sheets is the iOS version, if she has something that can run iOS apps.

And, of course, there's Google Sheets.

[GlytchMeister]

No I mean, can I save file as something that works on a Mac?

Like how RTF in word works with everyone?

[GlytchMeister]

What's the spreadsheet version of an RTF?

[Dave]

What's the spreadsheet version of an RTF?

CSV (comma-separated values). It's not good for much except exchanging tables of numbers... I don't think spreadsheet formulas and links and references will come across.

Also see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category: ... le_formats for an overview of exchange formats. The .ods (Open Document, Spreadsheet) format was designed for interchange between different systems, and it might serve her needs.

[GlytchMeister]

Worth a shot

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Or she can use LibreCalc and be able to make Excel sheet format documents

[GlytchMeister]

The problem is someone else's computer. They are using a MacBook.

They are also hopelessly tech illiterate. I'm just trying to get this to work right now and then I'll see what I can do about themacbook later.

[GlytchMeister]

I'll try both CSV and ODS

Thanks

[TazManiac]

Have the originating person do a 'Save As' from the pull-down menu, instead of just plain 'Save' (or the icon/button that represents 'Save'...).

'Save As' will offer other file formats to save the file in, one of which should be a Microsoft format-


Sharing documents with other versions of Office
Excel - https://support.office.com/en-us/articl ... f9243#bmxl

Save a file in a different format in Microsoft Office for Mac applications
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/968197

There isn't anything inherently 'Macintosh' about this, it's more basic-

We've been struggling with How to Send Someone Else a Document When You Don't Know What They Will Open It With... for a long time.

In the case of MS Excel you can default to a file that ends in .XLS, (or the later .XLSX) Be on the look-out for a previous version of MS Office, like Office 2007, etc for greater unknown recipient compatibility...)

(edit- I went back over this thread and I realize that my reply takes for granted the Originating System has MS Office, of some kind, installed on it.
Nonetheless, it should still be relevant to be able to 'Save As' in an MS format OR 'Export' as the others suggested, in a(simpler) Comma or Tab Delimited format...)

[GlytchMeister]

Yeah, I knew I had to do the whole "save as" thing.

I just didn't know what to save it as, and my quick google search didn't bring up any relevant info. I lost patience and just came here instead, because every time I ask a question here, I get great answers, be it about computers or cars.

[GlytchMeister]

I've created CSV's, CSV(Macintosh)'s, and OSD's. One of them has to work for my inexplicably Mac-loving aunt.

Mom says thanks, and so do I.

Her organization goes to her for help with tech problems. She goes to me for help with tech problems. I go to you bunch for help with tech problems.

[TazManiac]

OK, Cool. For better support in the future please request answers to the following:

1) What Version of Mac OS is the system running?
1b) (what model Powerbook?)

2) Does she have MS Office, for Macintosh, installed on the system? And version?
2b)(if not, then what word processor/spreadsheet app is she using?)

Always happy to help; keep in mind though- because this is the Forum I might be answering at non-traditional times and states of mind.
If my replies lack satisfaction, please respond with feedback.

I'm committed to solutions, or maybe the solution is I should be committed... B])

[GlytchMeister]

Non traditional times? Pffff. That's when I'm usually awake.

[Typeminer]

Mom is having a tech crisis with her job with my technologically-challenged aunt who for some rediculous reason decided using a Macintosh when the rest of the organization she works for uses PC's was a good idea.

I liked Macs better than PCs when I used them at work, two employers and 14 years ago, but have bought only PCs myself for exactly this reason. When the employer is PC based, why look for trouble? and the fact that they cost half as much eased my pain.