Two days ago I went to my files to get my Excel spreadsheet that I had my 2024 taxes on, and it was time to send it to my accountant due to the extension deadline coming up. I had created the file back in the spring, and hadn't really looked at it since then.

Well, I went looking for it. The file was GONE. Totally GONE. Corrupted with a long number beside the notation. That was probably 30 or more hours worth of work GONE. I don't have an answer to what would fix the problem, but I had to totally redo my 2024 taxes, business and personal.

I love my Mac & iPad and iPhone. I just wish Microsoft knew how to play nice with others....or Apple, if it's Apple's fault.

I sympathize!

The Time Machine automatically saves - and I am not always sure how to access older version - but all the financial spreadsheets: budget, tax, medical expenses, investments - are periodically sent to a thumb drive.

Glad you managed to rebuild it.

I'll look into that, as well as what FemDemERA suggested!

It backs up your files to an external drive every day. You can search for files going back months.

I've been using Mac Office on my Mac laptops since Office for Mac 2003. Mostly Excel and Word, which I use daily. I can't recall any problems opening prior versions (or PC versions) of any of the apps. I should note I don't use the Office 365 subscription software. I purchased the software itself, with lifetime license for both my PC and Mac -- 2003 versions were discs I bought with the laptops and more recently my 2021 Office versions were downloadable software through the MacWorld Shop. I mention that as I'm not sure if there is a difference in how the lifetime license vs subscription versions act with files, although guessing it's the same?

Anyway, that initial 2003 version lasted me through several laptops until I got the newer Mac with the M1 chip at which point I upgraded to 2021. It was a pretty seamless upgrade. The only thing is that some of the older files have the old xls, doc, etc. extensions. I can open them though, no problem, and then I can save as xlsx, docx, etc. filetype.

I also move files between my PC and Mac without issue.

Just to make sure, I just now found an old .xls, .ppt and .doc file on my mac and opened each of them. They opened just fine.

Hope that helps.

and I think I'll look into buying the software like you mentioned. It sounds like it would be a lot smoother than what I've experienced. Thanks for the info!

Here’s a link to the Macworld shop - hope it’s okay to post this. The actual software download is done through Microsoft’s website and you register the software with them.

https://shop.macworld.com/

the office key.

No, no subscription.

Whenever I open a spreadsheet at the top it says to check for an update. How do I do this? through the settings? Or do I go to Office site?

And if there is an update and I get it, probably will have to pay for it, will it open my existing documents?

Thanks. Hope this is not too convoluted