See: http://www.macworld.com/article/1155...el2011faq.html. This article suggests you only need to install the Open XML file format converter (available from MS at http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloa...8-A308B3140D2E) to work with documents saved in the Excel X file format. Are you sure it doesn't open Excel '98 files?

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Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]