With the release of Prism 10, a new file format (with the .prism file extension) was released. This new file format is the default for all new files created in Prism 10, but Prism 10 is still capable of opening, working with, and saving files with the .pzfx or .pzf extensions. However, there are limitations to working with files using these extensions, and we would generally recommend that you convert your existing files with these extensions to the new file format with the .prism extension. This page provides information on the different types of compatibility issues as well as a list of all known specific issues possible when saving a Prism file with the .pzfx or .pzf extension.
Types of compatibility issues
Critical compatibility issues
Issues in this category represent functionality in the new file that cannot be replicated using the older .pzfx or .pzf file extensions. There is no way to retain the information in the new file using these older formats, and as a result Prism will not allow you to save using either the .pzfx or .pzf extension. Your only options will be to save the file using the .prism extension, or to resolve the compatibility issue(s) present. For more information, see the list of known compatibility issues below.
Minor compatibility issues
Issues in this category represent minor losses of functionality. Prism will allow you to proceed with saving the file using the .pzfx or .pzf file extension, but this may result in some minor losses of information in the resulting file. Note that these losses should not have an effect on any analysis results or graph appearances. For more information, see the list of known compatibility issues below.
Known compatibility issues
Critical compatibility issues |
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Description |
Dialog message |
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There are greater than 1024 data sets in at least one data or result table |
The sheet '<Sheet name>' contains more than 1024 columns of data. |
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Some object exists beyond the page on a Multiple Variables graph |
Some graph objects on '<Graph name>' extend beyond the page limits. |
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Minor compatibility issues |
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Description |
Dialog message |
Result of saving with older file extension |
Analyses |
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A two-way ANOVA uses the new "Compare cell means with others in its row and its column" multiple comparison option |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' uses a multiple comparisons method that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
An analysis uses the new "One or None" P value style |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' uses the 'One or None' P value style that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
A Select and Transform analysis uses one of the following transforms: •min(Var) •max(Var) •mean(Var) •stdev(Var) •stderr(Var) |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' uses a transformation that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
A Select and Transform analysis uses the logic "Is not missing" for row selection |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' uses the logic filter ‘Is Not Missing’ that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
An Extract and Rearrange analysis is used to add subcolumn titles to the results sheet |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' includes subcolumn titles defined by the Extract and Rearrange analysis that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
Dunnett test is used in ANOVA |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' includes P values from Dunnett’s test that are more accurate than what older versions of Prism could calculate. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
Two-way ANOVA includes specified "Selected vs. Selected" multiple comparisons |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' includes specific selected multiple comparisons that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
A Select and Transform analysis uses a Categorical Variable vs Categorical variable for row selection |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' selects rows using categorical variables in a way that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
An Extract and Rearrange analysis to create an XY table includes a variable specified for replicates |
The analysis '<Sheet name>' uses a subject/replicate variable for the Extract and Rearrange options that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the analysis results, but you will not be able to modify the analysis parameters or update the results when the data are changed. |
When opening the file in an older version of Prism, the alert "This file was created by a new version of Prism" will be displayed, and the results sheet will be frozen. |
Graphs |
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Symbol size on a Multiple Variables graph is larger than 10 |
The symbol sizes selected for the graph '<Sheet name>' are larger than what older versions of Prism support. These older versions will be able to open this graph, but your options for changing the symbol size will be limited. |
The file will be opened with no associated warnings in Prism 9. The symbol sizes will appear correct, but you will not be able to adjust the smallest symbol size to any value greater than 10 in Prism 9. |
The "One or None" P value style was used together with Pairwise Comparisons on a graph |
The graph '<Sheet name>' includes asterisks from the 'One or None' P value style that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open the graph, but the graph sheet will be frozen |
The graph will open as frozen in older versions of Prism. the appearance of the graph will be the same as it was when it was saved as long as the graph sheet is not unfrozen (unfreezing the sheet will cause the graph to be re-drawn, and the new Pairwise Comparison appearance will be lost). |
The axes of a Multiple Variable graph are transparent/semitransparent or have a dashed style |
The axes on the graph '<Sheet name>' contain styling that older versions of Prism do not support. These older versions will be able to open this graph, but these styling options will be lost. |
The file will be opened with no associated warnings in Prism 9. Any dashed style applied to the axes will be lost. However, the axis transparency will be retained. |
Other Issues |
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An analysis constant was used (on a graph, in an analysis, etc.) that does not exist in previous versions of Prism |
The sheet '<Sheet name>' contains at least one analysis constant link that is not supported in previous versions of Prism. If you choose to save the file in PZFX format, these links will be lost. |
The link between the specified value and the analysis results will be lost. Changing the analysis or input data will not cause the linked value to update. Instead, this value will act as a static constant. |
A sheet title contains more than 80 characters |
The sheet title exceeds the maximum length of 80 characters and will be truncated in PZFX format. Sheet: '<Sheet name>' |
The first 80 characters of the sheet will be stored and displayed when the file is opened in the older file format. However, any characters past the first 80 will be lost |
The decimal format is changed for an entire data table or an entire row within a data table |
The data sheet '<Sheet name>' contains formatting in more than 1024 columns of data. The formatting in any column beyond 1024 will be lost when saving in <PZFX/PZF> format. |
The file will be opened in older versions of Prism without any associated warnings. If the file is saved in this older version and re-opened in Prism 10 or newer, the formatting of additional columns will be lost. |
