Pivot Table Compatibility Issue from 97-2003 to 2010 version

[purplegardener]

Hello,

We have just switched over from Excel 97-2003 to Excel 2010 version and some of our pivot tables have the error message saying "a pivot table in this workbook will not work in versions prior to Excel 2007. Only Pivot Tables that are created in Compatibility Mode will work in earlier versions of Excel". Excel help says to save the workbook to excel 97-2003 format and then recreate the pivot table in compatibility mode. I've updated the data range and resaved the file, but the error message still appears. What are the steps to fix this issue?

Is it normal that an "!" appears next to the file icon when it is saved as a macro enabled workbook now?

Thanks for any assistance you can provide. Our IT is not trained to help us in this area.

 

[RoryA]

Do you need them to work in versions prior to 2007? If you do, you have to do what the instructions say.

Yes, the exclamation mark is normal.

 

[purplegardener]

Do you need them to work in versions prior to 2007? If you do, you have to do what the instructions say.

Yes, the exclamation mark is normal.

We do not need them to work in a prior version, as long as they still function in the 2010 version. I'm confused about the step saying to recreate the pivot table in compatibility mode. Where would I select this option?

Thanks for any help.

 

[RoryA]

You have to save the file as an .xls file (ie the old 97-2003 format) and then create the pivot table.

 

[purplegardener]

You have to save the file as an .xls file (ie the old 97-2003 format) and then create the pivot table.

So we would have to re-create all of our pivot tables in the 2010 version?

 

[RoryA]

No - older pivot tables will work in newer versions, but not vice versa.

 

[purplegardener]

No - older pivot tables will work in newer versions, but not vice versa.

So if we have pivot tables that were created in the 97-2003 version, they will work in the 2010 version? Why do we need to re-save the file back as a 97-2003 file and then re-create the pivot tables? Won't we get the same error message when we convert the file again?

 

[SpillerBD]

What is the extension of the "current" file you are working in? xls or xlsx?

 

[purplegardener]

What is the extension of the "current" file you are working in? xls or xlsx?

The filename extension used to be "xls".

 

[SpillerBD]

? So what is it now....
It sounds like it is trying to maintain the previous version format. Changing the extension doesn't guarantee the conversion to the new format.
In the following link see the section "Convert a workbook to the Excel 2010 file format" (also applies for 2013.)
https://support.office.com/en-sg/article/use-office-excel-2010-with-earlier-versions-of-excel-2fd9ffcb-6fce-485b-85af-fecfd651a5ac#bm4
Since you indicate Macros exist in these workbooks, be careful and maintain a separate copy. I have not tested what happens to macros when converting files.