barnes@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu (03/07/89)
Hello,
I need the specs to write Lotus, Excel, or DIF type data files.
Does anyone know of a book or where I can get such information?
Thanks in advance....
Matthew Barnes
BITNET uiucme!matthew@uiucuxc USMAIL University of Illinois
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barnes@uiucuxe.cso.uiuc.edu Urbana, Il 61801
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{seismo,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!uiucme!matthewhobbes@Portia.Stanford.EDU (Andrew Zimmerman) (03/07/89)
In article <45900206@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu>, barnes@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu writes: > > > Hello, > I need the specs to write Lotus, Excel, or DIF type data files. > Does anyone know of a book or where I can get such information? > > Thanks in advance.... > Is there currently an archive devoted to the file formats for different programs? Andrew Zimmerman
dmt@mtunb.ATT.COM (Dave Tutelman) (03/08/89)
In article <45900206@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu> barnes@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu writes: > >I need the specs to write Lotus, Excel, or DIF type data files. >Does anyone know of a book or where I can get such information? Yes! I have a copy of a 1986 book (may have been updated since): Jeff Walden, "File Formats for Popular PC Software - A Programmer's Reference", Wiley, 1986. ISBN 0-471-83671-0 It covers the file formats for: Lotus 1-2-3 & Symphony Ability (ver 1.0) dBase II (2.43) & dBase III (1.1) DIF Multimate (3.30) Multiplan & SYLK IBM Plans+ (1.0) SuperCalc (2) VisiCalc Wordstar (2.2x - 3.31) Wordstar 2000 (1.01d) Also has sample files in the appendix. +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | Dave Tutelman | | Physical - AT&T Bell Labs - Lincroft, NJ | | Logical - ...att!mtunb!dmt | | Audible - (201) 576 2442 | +---------------------------------------------------------------+
jamesd@percival.UUCP (James Deibele) (03/11/89)
In article <1426@mtunb.ATT.COM> dmt@mtunb.UUCP (Dave Tutelman) writes: >In article <45900206@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu> barnes@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu writes: >> >>I need the specs to write Lotus, Excel, or DIF type data files. >>Does anyone know of a book or where I can get such information? > >Yes! I have a copy of a 1986 book (may have been updated since): > > Jeff Walden, > "File Formats for Popular PC Software - A Programmer's Reference", > Wiley, 1986. > ISBN 0-471-83671-0 > There's a second book in the series by the same author: "More File Formats for Popular PC Software - A Programmer's Reference", Wiley, 1987. ISBN 0-471-85077-2 It's not as popular as the first book because the programs described haven't done so well on the market: Volkswriter 3 v1.0 Framework II V1.0/1.1 Reflex 1.0/1.1 Rich Text Format (Microsoft) SuperCalc 4 1.0/1.1 Super Project Plus 2.0 WordPerfect 4.1 (well, WP has done OK :-) ). There hasn't been a third volume, nor do there seem to be plans for one. If anyone wanted to write a book, there doesn't seem to be a good source of info on graphics formats (TIFF, PICT, PICT2, etc.) and that's a field where there's only going to be more programs ... -- James Deibele UUCP: jamesd@percival FidoNet #1:105/4.1 TECHbooks: The Computer Book Specialists (503) 646-8257 12600 SW 1st Beaverton, OR 97005 BBS: (503) 760-1473 C++, X Windows, TCP/IP, OOPS, AWK, UNIX, VLSI, & more ...
mlawless@ncrwic.Wichita.NCR.COM (Mike Lawless) (03/15/89)
>>In article <45900206@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu> barnes@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu writes: >>> >>>I need the specs to write Lotus, Excel, or DIF type data files. >>>Does anyone know of a book or where I can get such information? With respect to Excel, Microsoft has just published a Technical Reference for Excel, which covers, among other things, the BIFF file format which is excel's native format. It also covers aspects of such things as DDE, dynamically linked libraries, memory usage, performance, macros, etc. It costs $50, and can be ordered direct from Microsoft. They are also willing to release file formats for their other products, such as word, but only if you write them a letter explaining why you want it, and sign a non-disclosure agreement. -- Mike Lawless, NCR E&M Wichita, Box 20 (316) 636-8666 (NCR: 654-8666) 3718 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226 Mike.Lawless@Wichita.NCR.COM {ece-csc,hubcap,gould,rtech}!ncrcae!ncrwic!Mike.Lawless {sdcsvax,cbatt,dcdwest,nosc.ARPA}!ncr-sd!ncrwic!Mike.Lawless