WK1 file format
| Extension | .wk1 |
| Category | documents |
| Description | The WK1 file format, born from the popular Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software of the 1980s and 1990s, remained the dominant format until Lotus 1-2-3 version 9 introduced the WK3 format. This earlier format was specifically designed to store various spreadsheet elements, including data, formulas, and formatting details. |
| Technical details | Constructed as a binary file type, the WK1 format organized data within rows and columns for efficient storage. Each file contained multiple records, each holding specific spreadsheet information. This included details like the number of rows and columns, cell dimensions, formatting specifics, and the actual data within the cells. This data was systematically arranged into sheets, with each sheet representing a unique table composed of rows and columns. The WK1 format offered a wide range of formatting options, ranging from font styles and borders to colors and alignments. Moreover, the WK1 format accommodated a range of mathematical and logical functions, providing users with the necessary tools to effectively manage data within the spreadsheet documents. Beyond data manipulation capabilities, the WK1 format allowed users to create and incorporate charts and graphs into the spreadsheet, thus enhancing the visual representation of data. |
| MIME type | application/vnd.lotus-1-2-3, application/x-123 application/lotus123 application/x-lotus123 application/wk1 application/vnd.ms-excel zz-application/zz-winassoc-wk1 |