When saving spreadsheets in Microsoft Works you will be using the wks file extension. These files can only be opened with Microsoft products or Open Office. To open wks files you will need to either have a registered version of Microsoft Works or Microsoft Word installed on your computer or Open Office installed on your computer. Because Microsoft Works and Microsoft Word are very expensive programs, many people choose to download Open Office. Open Office is a group of free office applications that are compatible with many other office applications.
You can download Open Office from several sources on the internet. To open wks files you will need either Open Office Writer or Open Office Calc. Open Office writer will allow you to view the data in a wks file but will not allow you to see it in a spreadsheet form. To view wks files in a spreadsheet format you will need Open Office Calc. Open Office Calc is comparable to Microsoft Excel. Open Office Calc is compatible with all of the file extension created in Microsoft Excel but the reverse is not true.
Download the entire Open Office software pack for best results. This software pack will include several useful programs which you may need to view other types of Microsoft file extensions.