Free online WK1 to TXT converter

Legacy Lotus 1-2-3 files may need conversion when a current program accepts only plain text for import, sharing, or archival. Converting .wk1 preserves cell contents in a smaller, broadly readable file but removes spreadsheet features and formatting.

What the WK1 format is

.wk1 is an early Lotus 1-2-3 worksheet format used mainly on DOS and early Windows systems. A WK1 file can contain cell values, labels, formulas, and basic formatting. These files commonly remain in legacy business records, accounting archives, and backups from Lotus 1-2-3 installations.

What the TXT format is

.txt contains plain character data rather than a spreadsheet document. It does not retain formulas as executable spreadsheet formulas, cell styles, column widths, charts, comments, multiple worksheets, or embedded objects.

Spreadsheet data exported to TXT is normally arranged in rows, with tabs, commas, semicolons, or another delimiter separating columns. A delimited text file may therefore resemble CSV internally even when its filename ends in .txt. TXT is useful when the receiving application requires plain text, when the contents must be readable in a basic editor, or when spreadsheet features are not needed.

How to convert a WK1 file to TXT

Using 101convert

1. Open the WK1-to-TXT converter on 101convert.com.
2. Select or upload the .wk1 file.
3. Choose TXT as the output format and start the conversion.
4. Download the result and open it in a text editor or the application that requires TXT input.

This method requires no software installation. Do not upload confidential records unless the service's privacy, retention, and processing terms are acceptable.

Using LibreOffice Calc

1. Open Calc and choose File → Open, then select the .wk1 file. If it is not detected automatically, choose the Lotus 1-2-3 WK1 filter in the file-type list. Support can vary by LibreOffice version.
2. Check dates, numbers, formulas, labels, and column positions against the original worksheet. Correct any import errors before exporting.
3. Choose File → Save As and select Text CSV (.csv). Set the output filename to output.txt only if the receiving program requires the .txt extension, then confirm that the file should be saved in Text CSV format.
4. In the export dialog, select the required delimiter and character encoding. Use a tab when cell values may contain commas; use UTF-8 unless the receiving legacy program requires an encoding such as Windows-1252.
5. Open the resulting file in a text editor and verify the delimiter, line breaks, encoding, blank cells, and number representations.

The extension does not determine the internal layout: a file named output.txt can still contain tab- or comma-delimited text. If the destination accepts CSV, keeping the standard .csv extension more accurately identifies the exported format.

Quality and compatibility limits

• TXT cannot preserve multiple worksheets, formatting, column widths, charts, comments, merged-cell behavior, or formula calculation.
• Exports commonly write displayed or calculated values rather than formulas that can be recalculated. Preserve the original WK1 file if formulas are needed later.
• Old WK1 files may use date systems, numeric conventions, or character encodings that modern software interprets differently. Check dates, currency values, decimal separators, and non-ASCII characters.
• Delimited text can be ambiguous when cell contents include the selected delimiter, quotation marks, or line breaks. Confirm the exporter's quoting rules and the importer's delimiter settings.
• Leading zeros, blank cells, long numbers, and negative values can be changed by spreadsheet programs during import or export. Inspect the generated text directly rather than relying only on a spreadsheet preview.