What is the file extension for ms excel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following is a list of filename extensions used by programs in the Microsoft Office suite.

Word[edit]

Legacy
Legacy filename extensions denote binary Microsoft Word formatting that became outdated with the release of Microsoft Office 2007. Although the latest version of Microsoft Word can still open them, they are no longer developed. Legacy filename extensions include:
  • .doc – Legacy Word document; Microsoft Office refers to them as «Microsoft Word 97 – 2003 Document»
  • .dot – Legacy Word templates; officially designated «Microsoft Word 97 – 2003 Template»
  • .wbk – Legacy Word document backup; referred as «Microsoft Word Backup Document»
OOXML
Office Open XML (OOXML) format was introduced with Microsoft Office 2007 and became the default format of Microsoft Word ever since. Pertaining file extensions include:
  • .docx – Word document
  • .docm – Word macro-enabled document; same as docx, but may contain macros and scripts
  • .dotx – Word template
  • .dotm – Word macro-enabled template; same as dotx, but may contain macros and scripts
  • .docb – Word binary document introduced in Microsoft Office 2007
  • .pdf – PDF documents
  • .wll – Word add-in
  • .wwl – Word add-in

Excel[edit]

Legacy
Legacy filename extensions denote binary Microsoft Excel formats that became outdated with the release of Microsoft Office 2007. Although the latest version of Microsoft Excel can still open them, they are no longer developed. Legacy filename extensions include:
  • .xls – Legacy Excel worksheets; officially designated «Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Worksheet»
  • .xlt – Legacy Excel templates; officially designated «Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Template»
  • .xlm – Legacy Excel macro
  • .xll_ – Excel 4 for Mac add-in
  • .xla_ — Excel 4 for Mac add-in
  • .xla5 – Excel 5 for Mac add-in
  • .xla8 – Excel 98 for Mac add-in
OOXML
Office Open XML (OOXML) format was introduced with Microsoft Office 2007 and became the default format of Microsoft Excel ever since. Excel-related file extensions of this format include:
  • .xlsx – Excel workbook
  • .xlsm – Excel macro-enabled workbook; same as xlsx but may contain macros and scripts
  • .xltx – Excel template
  • .xltm – Excel macro-enabled template; same as xltx but may contain macros and scripts
Other formats
Microsoft Excel uses dedicated file formats that are not part of OOXML, and use the following extensions:
  • .xlsb – Excel binary worksheet (BIFF12)
  • .xla – Excel add-in that can contain macros
  • .xlam – Excel macro-enabled add-in
  • .xll – Excel XLL add-in; a form of DLL-based add-in[1]
  • .xlw – Excel work space; previously known as «workbook»

PowerPoint[edit]

Legacy

  • .ppt – Legacy PowerPoint presentation
  • .pot – Legacy PowerPoint template
  • .pps – Legacy PowerPoint slideshow
  • .ppa – PowerPoint (2007?) add-in
  • .ppam – PowerPoint 2007 add-in with macros enabled

OOXML

  • .pptx – PowerPoint presentation
  • .pptm – PowerPoint macro-enabled presentation
  • .potx – PowerPoint template
  • .potm – PowerPoint macro-enabled template
  • .ppam – PowerPoint add-in
  • .ppsx – PowerPoint slideshow
  • .ppsm – PowerPoint macro-enabled slideshow
  • .sldx – PowerPoint slide
  • .sldm – PowerPoint macro-enabled slide
  • .pa – PowerPoint add-in

Access[edit]

Microsoft Access 2007 introduced new file extensions:

  • .ACCDA – Access add-in file
  • .ACCDB – The file extension for the new Office Access 2007 file format. This takes the place of the MDB file extension.
  • .ACCDE – The file extension for Office Access 2007 files that are in «execute only» mode. ACCDE files have all Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) source code hidden. A user of an ACCDE file can only execute VBA code, but not view or modify it. ACCDE takes the place of the MDE file extension.
  • .ACCDT – The file extension for Access Database Templates.
  • .ACCDR – is a new file extension that enables you to open a database in runtime mode. By simply changing a database’s file extension from .accdb to .accdr, you can create a «locked-down» version of your Office Access database. You can change the file extension back to .accdb to restore full functionality.
  • .ACCDU – Access add-in file
  • .MDA – Access add-in file
  • .MDE – Access add-in file

OneNote[edit]

  • .one – OneNote export file

Outlook[edit]

  • .ecf – Outlook 2013+ add-in file

Billing[2][edit]

Publisher[edit]

  • .pub – a Microsoft Publisher publication

XPS Document

  • .xps – a XML-based document format used for printing (on Windows Vista and later) and preserving documents.

See also[edit]

  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Office XML formats
  • Filename extension
  • Alphabetical list of file extensions
  • Office Open XML

External links[edit]

  • Introducing the Microsoft Office (2007) Open XML File Formats
  • Introduction to new file-name extensions

References[edit]

  1. ^ «Excel 2007 XLL Software Development Kit Documentation». MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  2. ^ Stross, Randall (2014). Planet google : one company’s audacious plan to organize everything we know. Free Press. ISBN 978-1-4165-8047-8. OCLC 893105047.

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Excel is one the tool which has a variety of extension in which we can save the file. A commonly used extension in Excel is . xlsx, which is used for storing a simple type of data. XLS is another type of default extension which was used until MS Office 2007. For storing a VBA code, we have XLSM.

Contents

  • 1 What is the file extension for Excel?
  • 2 What is the difference between XLTX and XLSX?
  • 3 How do you see Excel Add Ins?
  • 4 How do I see file extensions in Excel?
  • 5 What is macro in Excel?
  • 6 What is the difference between XML and XLS?
  • 7 What is word extension?
  • 8 Are Excel Add-Ins safe?
  • 9 What office add-ins?
  • 10 Which Excel add-in will help you?
  • 11 What is the purpose of file name extension?
  • 12 How do you show file extensions?
  • 13 How do you change a file extension in Excel?
  • 14 What is Vlookup in Excel?
  • 15 How do I write VBA code in Excel?
  • 16 What is an example of a macro?
  • 17 Is Xlsx a XML?
  • 18 What are XSD files?
  • 19 Can I convert Excel to XML?
  • 20 What is an extension in a sentence?

What is the file extension for Excel?

Excel file formats

Format Extension
Excel Workbook .xlsx
Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (code) .xlsm
Excel Binary Workbook .xlsb
Template .xltx

What is the difference between XLTX and XLSX?

An XLTX is the same as an XLSX in all respects – it’s just that Excel creates a new instance of an XLSX if the file opened is an XLTX. That’s all. If you use an XLTX for your data filling and save out an XLSX, every new instance (XLSX) will have that data when the resulting XLSX is opened.

How do you see Excel Add Ins?

Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-Ins category. In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go. The Add-Ins dialog box appears. In the Add-Ins available box, select the check box next to the add-in that you want to activate, and then click OK.

How do I see file extensions in Excel?

You can determine the Excel file version either from the file extension or file properties.

  1. Click on the Windows “Start” button then on “Computer” to open Windows Explorer.
  2. Browse your computer to find the Excel file.
  3. Check the file extension.
  4. Right-click on the Excel file and choose “Properties” from the pop-up menu.

What is macro in Excel?

If you have tasks in Microsoft Excel that you do repeatedly, you can record a macro to automate those tasks. A macro is an action or a set of actions that you can run as many times as you want. When you create a macro, you are recording your mouse clicks and keystrokes.

What is the difference between XML and XLS?

The main difference between XML and XLS is what they actually are. While XLS is a file format, as already mentioned, XML is actually a markup language that is prominently used in web pages.To complement this point, XML is also text based and can be read on any text editor.

docx – Word document. . docm – Word macro-enabled document; same as docx, but may contain macros and scripts.

Are Excel Add-Ins safe?

Microsoft Office add-ins themselves have limited capabilities to cause harm to the operating systems and applications running on a device due to the add-in runtime environment. However, the permissions granted to an add-in could allow unwanted access to resources and documents.

What office add-ins?

With Office Add-ins, you can use familiar web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to extend and interact with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Project, and Outlook. Your solution can run in Office across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iPad, and in a browser.

Which Excel add-in will help you?

The Analysis ToolPak is a Microsoft Office Excel add-in program that is available when you install Microsoft Office or Excel. It allows you to develop complex statistical or engineering analysis, all while helping you save steps and time.

What is the purpose of file name extension?

A file extension, sometimes called a file suffix or a filename extension, is the character or group of characters after the period that makes up an entire file name. The file extension helps an operating system, like Windows or macOS, determine which program on your computer the file is associated with.

How do you show file extensions?

Fortunately, it only takes a few steps:

  1. Choose My Computer from the Windows Start menu. (You can use any method for launching Explorer.)
  2. Choose Folder Options from the Tools menu and click the View tab.
  3. In the Folder Options dialog box, uncheck the Hide Extensions For Known File Types option.
  4. Click OK.

How do you change a file extension in Excel?

You can change the file type that is used by default when you save a workbook.

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button. , and then click Excel Options.
  2. In the Save category, under Save workbooks, in the Save files in this format box, click the file format that you want to use by default.

What is Vlookup in Excel?

VLOOKUP stands for ‘Vertical Lookup’. It is a function that makes Excel search for a certain value in a column (the so called ‘table array’), in order to return a value from a different column in the same row.

How do I write VBA code in Excel?

Insert VBA code to Excel Workbook

  1. Open your workbook in Excel.
  2. Press Alt + F11 to open Visual Basic Editor (VBE).
  3. Right-click on your workbook name in the “Project-VBAProject” pane (at the top left corner of the editor window) and select Insert -> Module from the context menu.
  4. Copy the VBA code (from a web-page etc.)

What is an example of a macro?

Macro is defined as something that covers a large amount, or is large in size. An example of macro is the study of the key driving aspects of an economy; macro economics. An example of macro is a very close up photograph of an ant; a macro photograph.

Is Xlsx a XML?

XLSX was originally developed by Microsoft as an XML-based format to replace the earlier proprietary binary format that uses the . xls file extension [MS-XLS]. Since Excel 2007, XLSX has been the default format for the Save operation.

What are XSD files?

A file with the XSD file extension is most likely an XML Schema file; a text-based file format that defines validation rules for an XML file and explains the XML form. Since they’re schema files, they provide a model for something else, XML files in this case.

Can I convert Excel to XML?

You can convert your Excel file to an XML data file, or vice versa. This enables you to exchange data between different applications. First, turn on the Developer tab.The schema defines the structure of the XML file.

What is an extension in a sentence?

an addition to the length of something 12. an addition that extends a main building. (1) Donald’s been given an extension to finish his thesis. (2) The extension of the garden will take several weeks.

Excel File Extensions and Their Uses

XLS, XLSX, XLSM, XLTX and XLTM

A file extension is the group of letters that appear after the last period in a file name. File extensions are usually 2 to 4 characters long, although they can be of any length. Excel uses a handful of standard extensions to disambiguate certain kinds of spreadsheet files.

The information in this article applies to Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel Online, and Excel for Mac.

XLS vs. XLSX

The current default file extension for an Excel file is XLSX. Prior to Excel 2007, the default file extension was XLS. The main difference between the two is that XLSX is an XML-based open file format and XLS is a proprietary Microsoft format. But, the newer versions of Excel save and open XLS files for the sake of compatibility with earlier versions of the program.

Determine if a file contains macros before you open it. Macros contain code that could damage files and compromise computer security if they come from untrusted sources. Excel files containing VBA and XLM macros use the XLSM extension.

XML and HTML

XML stands for extensible markup language. XML is related to HTML, the extension used for web pages. Advantages of this file format include:

  • Smaller file sizes for storage and transfer.
  • Better recovery of information from damaged files.
  • Easier detection of files containing macros.

XLTX and XLTM

If an Excel file has either an XLTX or an XLTM extension, it is saved as a template file. Template files are used as starter files for new workbooks. Templates contain saved settings such as the default number of sheets per workbook, formatting, formulas, graphics, and custom toolbars. The difference between the two extensions is that the XLTM format can store VBA and XML macro code.

Macintosh computers do not rely on file extensions to determine which program to use when opening a file. However, for the sake of compatibility with the Windows version of the program, Excel for Mac uses the XLSX file extension.

Excel files created in one operating system can be opened the other. One exception to this is Excel 2008 for the Mac, which does not support VBA macros. As a result, it cannot open XLMX or XMLT files created by Windows or later Mac versions that support VBA macros.

Change File Formats With Save As

To change an Excel format (and its extension), follow these steps:

  1. Open the workbook and select File > Save As. In Excel 2019, select Save a Copy instead.

  2. In the dialog box, accept the suggested file name or type a new name for the workbook.

  3. In the Save as type or File Format list, choose the format for the resulting file.

  4. Select Save to save the file in the new format and return to the current worksheet.

If a file is saved in a format that does not support all the features of the current format, such as formatting or formulas, an alert message box appears prompting you to continue or to cancel.

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Extensions of Excel

Extension File (Table of Contents)

  • Extensions of Excel
  • How to Change the Excel file format or Extension?
  • How do you know the file type of saved file?

Extensions of Excel

Excel is one the tool which has a variety of extension in which we can save the file. A commonly used extension in Excel is .xlsx, which is used for storing a simple type of data. XLS is another type of default extension which was used until MS Office 2007. For storing a VBA code, we have XLSM. This is purely made for macros. Another extension, CSV (Comma Separated Values), delimits the data, which is separated by commas. XLSB extension is used for compression, saving, opening etc.

For example, the filename “XYZ.doc” has an extension of “.doc, ” a file extension associated with the document file.

Excel file extensions can be of various types. Here we will cover the most common file type:

  • XLS – Excel file extension

This extension is the most common and default type in the spreadsheet generated by Microsoft office. Prior to Excel 2007, the file extension was XLS. This extension refers to a file which contains all type of information including data, formats, graphics etc. The operating system recognizes the file type with the help of an extension and operates this file using the Excel application.

The XLS is the default file type for Excel version 2.0 to Excel 2003.

  • XLSX – Excel file extension

This extension is used by the spreadsheet files generated with the Excel version 2007 onwards. For an Excel file, the current default file extension is XLSX.

XSLX is an XML based file format. With the use of this technology, the file with XSLX format is very less in weight or size, and as compared to the XLS file format, this leads directly to saving space. It requires less time to download or upload excel documents.

Only one disadvantage of this XSLX extension is that this version is incompatible to run the files prior to Excel 2007.

  • XLSM – Excel file extension

This extension file type is generated by the spreadsheet with the excel version 2007 onwards, including Excel macros.

With the help of an extension, it’s easy to understand that the file contains a macro. Because of security reasons and for protecting a file with computer viruses, malicious macros, infecting computers, etc., this version comes into existence.

This file extension is very reliable in terms of macros and for security reasons.

  • XLSB – Excel file extension

If excel files contain a large amount of data or information, this file extension type fully supports in the compression process, saving, opening, etc.

An excel file that contains a large amount of data takes a lot of time in the opening in processing that file. Sometimes while opening, it gets hanged and frequently crashes.

How to Change the Excel file format or Extension?

For changing the file extension, follow the below steps:

  • Open the workbook for which you want to change the format.
  • Go to the FILE tab.

Step 1

  • It will open a left pane window. There are a lot of options available in this pane. Refer to the below screenshot.

Step 2

  • Click on Save As option as shown below.

Step 3

  • It will open a dialog box, as shown below.

Step 4

  • Now you need to select where you want to save the file in the system. Refer to the below screenshot.

Excel Extensions Step 1-5

  • I have selected the Desktop for saving this file as a destination.

Excel Extensions Step 1-6

  • Under the File name field, give the file name for the workbook.

Excel Extensions Step 1-7

  • Under Save as type field, we need to choose the file format.
  • Click on Save as type filed; it will open a list of formats as shown in the below screenshot.

Excel file formats

  • Choose the file format and click on the Save button for saving the file.

Excel Extensions Step 1-9

  • It will save the file with the extension.

How do you know the file type of saved file?

For this, follow below steps:

  • Select the file for which you want to know the file format.
  • Right-click on that file.
  • It will open a drop-down list of options.
  • Click on the Properties option from the list. Refer to the below screenshot.

Excel Extensions Step 2-1

  • It will open a Properties window.
  • Under the Type of file option, you can see the file type or extension of the file. Refer to the below screenshot.

file formats excel

Things to Remember about Excel File Formats

  • Any file format doesn’t support all the features of excel like formulas etc.; then it will display an alert message box.
  • Then you can change the file format again.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Extensions of Excel. Here we discuss how to Change the Excel file format or Extension along with its practical examples. You can also go through our other suggested articles –

  1. Cheat Sheet of Excel Formulas
  2. CSV Files into Excel
  3. Sort Columns in Excel
  4. Data Table in Excel

Microsoft Excel is one of the oldest and widely used spreadsheet software. The software has received many upgrades over time, including support for new extensions or file types that have come up over time. Each new extension has completely different functionality and usage. Therefore, we should know the various extensions most commonly used in Excel.

In this article, we are discussing common file extensions used in Excel. Before discussing Excel file extensions, let’s first understand the definition of a file extension.

What is the file extension for Excel

What is a File Extension?

A file extension primarily refers to a suffix added at the end of the computer file (an object containing the information, data, or command) to define the file type. Generally, a file extension includes two to four characters. Moreover, the extension is separated from the file name using a dot (.) sign.

For example, a file with the name ‘Example.docx’ has a file extension ‘.docx’, indicating a word document file.

Why do Excel File Extensions matter?

There is a wide range of file extensions. Each extension provides the necessary information about the file type. Each extension has a specific role, and we must know the extension to open a file using the right kind of software. Not all file extensions are supported with every software. That way, Excel file extensions can help us know more about the file type and what type of data it includes, i.e.:

  • Whether it includes VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) or macros,
  • Whether the file is a template,
  • Whether the file is saved for an older version of Excel,
  • Whether the file is saved with the general legacy version,
  • Whether the file format is binary or an XML document, etc.

All these details can be obtained by file extension. Each extension has a descriptive name, which helps us identify the purpose or technique for which the corresponding extension is used. Also, we can arrange/ organize different types of files in different directories after knowing their file extensions.

Excel File Extensions

Although Excel has a variety of supported file extensions, we are discussing some of the significant extensions below:

XLSX Extension in Excel

The XLSX extension is the default extension of Excel when there is no use of macros in it. This extension is based on XML and used primarily for Excel 2007 and Excel 2010. Before Excel 2007, the standard file extension for Excel was XLS. After introducing the XLSX extension, the file size was drastically reduced compared to the XLS. Due to this, downloading and sharing the files became much easier than before.

Apart from this, XLSX is an extension free of malicious code. This is because the XLSX extension cannot store the VBA macro code. However, it can use and store all functions used in Excel. Additionally, this extension is supported by other similar software, making files of this extension accessible in other applications. The main disadvantage of using the XLSX extension is that if we want to run the file in a version before Excel 2007, we cannot save the Excel file using this extension.

XLS Extension in Excel

As we said earlier, Excel XLS extension was the most popular type of extension before Excel 2007. Later, it was replaced by XLSX. Thus, the XLS extension is now almost obsolete, and we do not use or see this extension anymore. However, the extension is still in use, and many software and tools still have the option to export the data as XLS files. The only reason because the XLS extension still exists in many software is that some people may need to open a file in Excel versions before 2007 (i.e., Excel 2003).

Since Excel can read this extension, we can use any old file with this extension in the new Excel version and continue to work on it. The XLS extension is the default file extension from Excel version 2.0 to Excel version 2003. There are some disadvantages of using this extension nowadays. It requires more disk space, may contain malicious VBA code, and consists of a relatively small number of rows and columns than the latest extensions.

XLSM Extension in Excel

Whenever we include VBA macros in our existing Excel file and try to save it, we see a notification that to keep VBA macros, we have to save a file in the XLSM extension. The XLSM extension is the default extension when there are macros inside an Excel file. This extension is similar to the XLSX extension but with additional support for macros.

This XML-based and macro-enabled file extension only works in Excel 2007 and later. This means that we cannot use this extension in Excel before Excel 2007. The XLSM extension was introduced primarily to increase the security of Excel files and protect them from malicious macros and viruses. Besides, this extension can also store all other functions used in Excel. The disadvantage of using XLSM extensions is that it requires more disk space than other file formats (such as XLSB).

XLSB Extension in Excel

The XLSB extension is an optional alternative to the XLSX and XLSM extensions for saving Excel files. However, this particular file extension is much faster than XLSX and XLSM in opening and saving Excel files. That is why the XLSB extension is mainly used for huge files (more than 10 MB). Unlike the XLSX and XLSB extensions, the XLSB extension does not use the XML format to store information. Instead, it uses the binary format.

Apart from this, the XLSB extension uses comparatively less disk space because the data is stored in a binary structure. This extension can also store VBA macros, and therefore, we should not launch these files if downloaded or obtained from untrusted sources. Since the XLSB extension was introduced with Excel 2007, we cannot open XLSB files in Excel 2003 and earlier. Additionally, the XLSB extension is not used in most third-party software (i.e., OpenOffice, Capital IQ, Bloomberg, etc.), so we may not be able to open/export our existing files.

XLTX Extension in Excel

The XLTX extension is primarily used for Excel templates. Excel templates are usually defined as formatted files with different styles, functions, and functionalities. In this way, templates are created and classified into separate sections and downloaded from Excel. In addition, we can create our custom templates and save them using the XLTX extension.

This particular extension is beneficial when we often start working from a particular point for different files. So, if we save that particular point as a template, we can use this template as a starting point for other Excel workbooks every time. In addition, we can use the ‘Save As’ command to save our work to a new Excel file, leaving the original file or a template intact from the changes.

XLTM Extension in Excel

XLTM is another extension used for Excel templates. However, this extension is a macro-enabled one, which allows us to use VBA macros with templates. More specifically, we can use the XLTM extension to save our custom Excel templates with additional macro support.

On the other hand, we can use these files (Excel template with macro) as a starting point for other Excel workbooks containing macros whenever we require them.

XLAM Extension in Excel

The XLAM extension is primarily used to save add-ins data. This extension is not commonly used for general use. They work as add-ins, and when we launch these files, they can work efficiently in Excel. It is important to note that XLAM files provide some additional features and functionalities to use within Excel. In particular, these files help us to add/extend the features of Excel. They can also include VBA macros, images, ribbons, and worksheets with forms.

Files with XLAM can be easily launched as regular Excel files. Since these files are used for add-ins, we may need to enable the Add-Ins option from the excel settings (File> Options> Add-Ins) if it is turned off. Thus, the next time we open Excel, we will see additional features of that particular add-in.

CSV Extension in Excel

The CSV (comma-separated value) extension usually saves a workbook in plain text. This means that it does not store any formula or formatting within files. However, this extension can contain tab characters, line breaks, and other characters to be interpreted correctly on other Windows systems. In addition, the CSV extension saves only the active sheet.

Excel allows us to import or open CSV files directly from excel itself. The main application of CSV files involves the use of data for import and export explicitly. Therefore, most database software supports this extension so that we can import/ export data. Since this extension does not include formulas and formatting, the file size is usually small. This enables us to use a vast amount of data. Also, we can use unlimited rows and columns. Excel files that are saved using the CSV extension work much faster during the opening and closing process.

ODS Extension in Excel

ODS (Open Document Spreadsheet) is an extension designed to work with Excel and other software such as OpenOffice, LibreOffice, etc. When it comes to Excel, this particular extension does not support all features and functionality. This is why the ODS extension is not often used. This extension is mainly beneficial when we want to share our Excel file with someone working on other office applications.

Apart from this, when we receive an ODS file from someone and open / export it to Excel, we may see some problems in formatting and features (such as tables, charts, conditional formatting, and more). Typically, we lose formatting or features that Excel does not support, but OpenOffice does. However, the ODS extension can store text and data appropriately.

PDF Extension in Excel

Excel also allows saving a worksheet in a PDF (portable document format) extension. Although this extension is the least popular in Excel, it is sometimes the most helpful. The PDF extension is primarily used when we may need to share it with others or print it on paper. This is because PDF maintains the file’s formatting, and therefore it does not automatically convert from one system to another. Also, documents saved with the PDF format can be easily reproduced using commercial printing methods, as the PDF preserves the formatting.

Since the PDF extension was introduced with Excel 2010, it is not available for use in Excel 2007 and earlier. In addition, opening a PDF file in Excel may cause some formatting problems because there are different software to open this particular file format, such as Adobe Reader.

How to check Excel File Extension?

We can try different methods to check file extensions of the files saved using Excel. The two simplest methods to check the file extension are discussed below:

Method 1:

Method 2

Apart from the traditional method discussed above, we can also mark the ‘File Name Extensions‘ box from the ‘View‘ tab in file explorer. This will display the file extensions with the file names within the file explorer.

What is the file extension for Excel

Converting Excel File Extension to Other Formats

We can convert the extension of an existing excel file to another format by navigating through the File > Save As in Excel. We will see several file formats in a drop-down menu next to the ‘Save As Type‘ text. However, the formats available in the list may vary based on the type of the active sheet (a chart sheet, worksheet, or any other type of sheet).

Let us understand this deeply with the pictures:

Note: When we change or save an existing Excel file extension in another file format, some of its formatting, features, or data might not always be transferred.

Which file extension should we choose in Excel?

It is essential to choose the correct extension for an Excel file; otherwise, it may misbehave. It mainly depends on the user’s needs and what type of data, features, or formatting the user wants to use in the Excel file.

The following are some useful points for selecting the best file type for an Excel file:

  • If we want to save our Excel file to take a hard copy of it without further editing, it is recommended to choose the PDF version. This is because some formatting may change automatically after printing when saved to other file extensions. Besides, once a PDF is saved with the proper formatting, it will not be automatically changed when printing. Furthermore, PDF files are also difficult to edit, so no other people can easily change the data.
  • If an Excel file has VBA macros and the file size is relatively large, it is suggested to use the XLSB extension. Even if there is no use of VBA macros, but the file size is large (more than about 10 MB), we should choose the XLSB extension. Besides, if a file has VBA macros and the size is less than about 10 MB, it is good to use the XLSM extension.
  • If there is a need to open and edit an Excel file with other popular software, it is suggested to choose ODF extension or strict XLSX.
  • If we want to save an Excel file to open it with other versions of Excel, such as Excel 2003 or earlier, we need to choose the XLS extension. This extension is supported in the older version; however, the features of the new versions will not be displayed in the older versions.

These are some of the most common formats we can choose from. However, there are many more options which we can choose based on the requirements.


Excel file extensions are there to identify the file format. For example, in computer operating systems, file extensions are to identify the file type for the operating system so that it runs and opens the file with the specified format.

If you observe at the end of the file name, you will see the extension of that file.

Excel Extensions

The above image, includes XLSX, XLSM, XLSB, XLS, and XLAM.

I am sure you know about Excel but not about their formats. If you have no idea about Excel file extensions, this is a tailor-made article. In a general case scenario, you must have seen the xlsx file format in Excel. When you try to save the unsaved workbook Excel automatically saves it as an “xlsx” file.

Note: When we save the existing file with a different Excel file format (extension), some of the features of the current file might not be transferred to the new file extension.

Table of contents
  • Extensions in Excel
    • Where to Find File Extensions in Excel?
    • Top 5 Excel file Formats
      • #1 – XLSX
      • #2 – XLSM
      • #3 – XLSB
      • #4 – XLS
      • #5 – XLAM
    • Other Additional Excel File Formats
    • Things to Remember
    • Recommended Articles

Where to Find File Extensions in Excel?

You must be thinking about where these file formats are. These file formats are available when we see the save dialog box. Under the “Save as type,” we can see many of the accessible file formats in the computer system.

Excel Extensions 1

If you look at the above image, the first extension the operating system recognizes is Excel Workbook (*.xlsx) format, and all the other remaining forms follow after.

Top 5 Excel file Formats

Below are some of the top file formats for Excel. You may follow this article to explore some of them.

#1 – XLSX

The default Excel format is “XLSX.” However, when we press the “Save As” option, Excel, by default, recognizes this extension. It is the replacement of the earlier extension called XLS. It is the most popular Excel file extension for non-macro files.

Below is the image which shows how the file is saved under this method.

Excel Extensions (File Format 1 xlsx)

#2 – XLSM

This Excel file format is used for a VBA Macro file. If we are working with macro in Excel, we need to change the Excel extension to enable the smooth flow of macro running. It is the default extension type for a macro containing a workbook.

XLSX does not support the macro code. Therefore, we need to save the workbook as a macro-enabled workbook to run the macros.

While saving the workbook, we need to select the file type as “Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook.”

Excel Extensions (File Format 2 xlsm)

#3 – XLSB

Often in Excel, we face the issue of too much data, and the Excel file slows down. In addition, if Excel is saved in the form of “XLSX” or “XLSM” Excel, the workbook tends to slow down.

“XLSB” means “Excel Binary Workbook.” If we save the workbook as a binary workbook, it will reduce the weight of the workbook.

Look at the below image, an Excel workbook saved in the form of “XLSX,” and the total workbook weight is 63.4 KB.

Excel Extensions (File Format 2 xlsb)

Now, we will save this file as “Excel Binary Workbook.”

Excel Extensions (File Format 2 xlsb) 1

Now, look at the size of the workbook.

Excel Extensions (File Format 2 xlsb) 2

So, Excel binary workbook reduces the workbook size to 59.4 KB. In the case of a large file, it reduces the size of the workbook by 50%.

#4 – XLS

Probably, we may not see this kind of Excel file format these days. However, this file is saved for the binary workbook of Excel 97 to Excel 2003 binary format.

Excel Extensions (File Format 4 XLS)

#5 – XLAM

It is the Excel Add-in. Excel Add-insAn add-in is an extension that adds more features and options to the existing Microsoft Excel.read more are extra features we add to the Excel workbook. Excel has many built-in features. On top of these available features, we can create some macros and make Excel talk according to our wishes.

Excel Extensions (File Format 5 xlam) 2

Once the macro is created, we need to save the file as “Excel Add-ins.” Once the workbook is saved as “Add-in,” click on Developer TabEnabling the developer tab in excel can help the user perform various functions for VBA, Macros and Add-ins like importing and exporting XML, designing forms, etc. This tab is disabled by default on excel; thus, the user needs to enable it first from the options menu.read more >Excel Add-ins and select the additional feature created by a User Defined Function (UDF).

Excel Extensions (File Format 5 xlam)

Excel Extensions (File Format 5 xlam) 1

Other Additional Excel File Formats

We have seen the top five file formats. On top of these, there are many other additional extensions available.

  1. XLC: Excel Chart Type
  2. XLT: Excel Template
  3. XLD: Excel DataBase
  4. XLK: Excel Back up

Things to Remember

  • For macros, we need to select the “XLSM” type extension.
  • We cannot use the workbook of the Excel “Add-in” extension, but we can use that as an add-in in other workbooks.
  • If the Excel is saved as “CSV,” it will not be an Excel workbook. It is to store the data, but it is not very easy to work on it. It will reduce the size of the workbook.
  • “Excel Binary Workbook” can reduce the workbook size by 50%.

Recommended Articles

This article is a guide to Excel Extensions. We discussed the top file formats, including XLSX, XLSM, XLSB, XLS, and XLAM, their key features, and applications. You may also look at these useful Excel tools below: –

  • Equations in Excel ExamplesIn Excel, equations are the formulas we type into cells. We begin by writing an equation with an equals to symbol (=), which Excel knows as calculate.read more
  • AutoFill in ExcelAutoFill in excel can fill a range in a specific direction by using the fill handle.read more
  • Excel vs. Google SheetsIn Google Sheets, we may share a link with other users to permit them to read or edit the sheet at the same time, however in Excel, only one person can edit the file at a time.read more
  • How to use Array Formulas in Excel?Array formulas are extremely helpful and powerful formulas that are used in Excel to execute some of the most complex calculations. There are two types of array formulas: one that returns a single result and the other that returns multiple results.read more
  • LINEST Excel FunctionThe built-in LINEST Function in Excel calculates statistics for a line by the least-squares regression method & returns an array that defines the line proving to be well-suited for the given data. read more

Содержание

  1. File formats that are supported in Excel
  2. Excel file formats
  3. Text file formats
  4. Other file formats
  5. File formats that use the Clipboard
  6. File formats that are not supported in Excel
  7. File formats that are not supported in Excel Starter
  8. Opening or viewing unsupported file formats
  9. Need more help?
  10. File format reference for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  11. File formats that are supported in Word
  12. File formats that are supported in Excel
  13. File formats that are supported in PowerPoint
  14. Unsupported file formats in Office
  15. Additional file format information
  16. Microsoft Office Clipboard file formats
  17. Opening or viewing unsupported file formats

File formats that are supported in Excel

You can save an Excel file in another file format by clicking the File > Save As. The file formats that are available in the Save As dialog box vary, depending on what type of sheet is active (a worksheet, chart sheet, or other type of sheet).

Note: Whenever you save a file in another file format, some of its formatting, data, and features might not be transferred.

To open a file that was created in another file format, either in an earlier version of Excel or in another program, click File > Open. If you open an Excel 97-2003 workbook, it automatically opens in Compatibility Mode. To take advantage of the new features of Excel 2010, you can save the workbook to an Excel 2010 file format. However, you also have the option to continue to work in Compatibility Mode, which retains the original file format for backward compatibility.

Excel file formats

The default XML-based file format for Excel 2010 and Excel 2007. Cannot store Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro code or Microsoft Office Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).

Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (code)

The XML-based and macro-enabled file format for Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, and Excel 2007. Stores VBA macro code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).

Excel Binary Workbook

The binary file format (BIFF12) for Excel 2010 and Excel 2007.

The default file format for an Excel template for Excel 2010 and Excel 2007. Cannot store VBA macro code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).

The macro-enabled file format for an Excel template Excel 2010 and Excel 2007. Stores VBA macro code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).

Excel 97- Excel 2003 Workbook

The Excel 97 — Excel 2003 Binary file format (BIFF8).

Excel 97- Excel 2003 Template

The Excel 97 — Excel 2003 Binary file format (BIFF8) for an Excel template.

Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook

The Excel 5.0/95 Binary file format (BIFF5).

XML Spreadsheet 2003

XML Spreadsheet 2003 file format (XMLSS).

XML Data format.

The XML-based and macro-enabled Add-In format for Excel 2010 and Excel 2007. An Add-In is a supplemental program that is designed to run additional code. Supports the use of VBA projects and Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).

Excel 97-2003 Add-In

The Excel 97-2003 Add-In, a supplemental program that is designed to run additional code. Supports the use of VBA projects.

Excel 4.0 Workbook

An Excel 4.0 file format that saves only worksheets, chart sheets, and macro sheets. You can open a workbook in this file format in Excel 2010, but you cannot save an Excel file to this file format.

Works 6.0-9.0 spreadsheet

Spreadsheet saved in Microsoft Works 6.0-9.0.

Note: This format is supported in Excel Starter only.

Text file formats

Formatted Text (Space-delimited)

Lotus space-delimited format. Saves only the active sheet.

Saves a workbook as a tab-delimited text file for use on another Microsoft Windows operating system, and ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.

Saves a workbook as a tab-delimited text file for use on the Macintosh operating system, and ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.

Saves a workbook as a tab-delimited text file for use on the MS-DOS operating system, and ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.

Saves a workbook as Unicode text, a character encoding standard that was developed by the Unicode Consortium.

CSV (comma delimited)

Saves a workbook as a comma-delimited text file for use on another Windows operating system, and ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.

Saves a workbook as a comma-delimited text file for use on the Macintosh operating system, and ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.

Saves a workbook as a comma-delimited text file for use on the MS-DOS operating system, and ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.

Data Interchange Format. Saves only the active sheet.

Symbolic Link Format. Saves only the active sheet.

Note: If you save a workbook in any text format, all formatting is lost.

Other file formats

dBase III and IV. You can open these files formats in Excel, but you cannot save an Excel file to dBase format.

OpenDocument Spreadsheet. You can save Excel 2010 files so they can be opened in spreadsheet applications that use the OpenDocument Spreadsheet format, such as Google Docs and OpenOffice.org Calc. You can also open spreadsheets in the .ods format in Excel 2010. Formatting might be lost when saving and opening .ods files.

Portable Document Format (PDF). This file format preserves document formatting and enables file sharing. When the PDF format file is viewed online or printed, it retains the format that you intended. Data in the file cannot be easily changed. The PDF format is also useful for documents that will be reproduced by using commercial printing methods.

Note: This format is not supported in Excel 2007.

XML Paper Specification (XPS). This file format preserves document formatting and enables file sharing. When the XPS file is viewed online or printed, it retains exactly the format that you intended, and the data in the file cannot be easily changed.

Note: This format is not supported in Excel 2007.

File formats that use the Clipboard

You can paste data from the Microsoft Office Clipboard into Excel by using the Paste or Paste Special command ( Home tab, Clipboard group, Paste button) if the Office Clipboard data is in one of the following formats.

Clipboard type identifiers

Pictures in Windows Metafile Format (WMF) or Windows Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF).

Note If you copy a Windows metafile picture from another program, Excel pastes the picture as an enhanced metafile.

Pictures stored in Bitmap format (BMP).

Microsoft Excel file formats

Binary file formats for Excel versions 5.0/95 (BIFF5), Excel 97-2003 (BIFF8), and Excel 2010 (BIFF12).

Symbolic Link Format.

Data Interchange Format.

Tab-separated text format.

Comma-separated values format.

Formatted text (Space-delimited)

Rich Text Format (RTF). Only from Excel.

.gif, .jpg, .doc, .xls, or .bmp

Microsoft Excel objects, objects from properly registered programs that support OLE 2.0 (OwnerLink), and Picture or another presentation format.

.gif, .jpg, .doc, .xls, or .bmp

OwnerLink, ObjectLink, Link, Picture, or other format.

Office drawing object

Office drawing object format or Picture (Windows enhanced metafile format, EMF).

Display Text, OEM Text.

Single File Web Page

Single File Web Page (MHT or MHTML). This file format integrates inline graphics, applets, linked documents, and other supporting items referenced in the document.

Note: This format is not supported in Excel 2007.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).

Note: When you copy text from another program, Excel pastes the text in HTML format, regardless of the format of the original text.

File formats that are not supported in Excel

The following file formats are no longer supported in Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, Excel Starter, and Excel 2007. You cannot open or save files in these file formats.

Clipboard type identifiers

Excel 2.0, 3.0, and 2.x file formats

WK1, FMT, WK2, WK3, FM3, WK4

.wk1, .wk2, .wk3, .wk4, .wks

Lotus 1-2-3 file formats (all versions)

Microsoft Works file format (all versions)

DBASE II file format

Quattro Pro for MS-DOS file format

Quattro Pro 5.0 and 7.0 for Windows.

File formats that are not supported in Excel Starter

Additionally, the following file formats are no longer supported in Excel Starter. You cannot open or save files in these file formats.

Excel 97-2003 Add-In

Data source name

Access MDE database

Office Data Connection

Opening or viewing unsupported file formats

If a file format that you want to use is not supported in Excel, you can try the following:

Search the Internet for a company that makes file format converters for file formats that are not supported in Excel.

Save to a file format that another program supports and then export from that program into a file format that Excel supports.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.

Источник

File format reference for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Applies to: Office 2019, Office 2016

Supported file formats and their extensions are listed in the following tables for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

File formats that are supported in Word

The following table describes the file formats that are supported in Word, alphabetized by extension.

Extension Name of file format Description
.doc Word 97-2003 Document The binary file format for Word 97-Word 2003.
.docm Word Macro-Enabled Document The XML-based and macro-enabled file format for Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Office Word 2007. Stores Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro code.
.docx Word Document The default XML-based file format for Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Office Word 2007.
.docx Strict Open XML Document Conforms to the Strict profile of the Open XML standard (ISO/IEC 29500). This profile of Open XML doesn’t allow a set of features that are designed specifically for backward-compatibility with existing binary documents, as specified in Part 4 of ISO/IEC 29500.
.dot Word 97-2003 Template Template for Word 97-Word 2003 files.
.dotm Word Macro-Enabled Template Template for creating new Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Office Word 2007 files that contain macros. Users who want to include UI customizations or macros in the template should use this file format.
.dotx Word Template Template for creating new Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Office Word 2007 files that don’t contain macros.
.htm, .html Web Page A web page that is saved as a folder that contains an .htm file and all supporting files, such as images, sound files, cascading style sheets, scripts, and more. Good for posting on a site or editing with Microsoft Office FrontPage or another HTML editor.
.htm, .html Web Page, Filtered Saving in the Web Page, Filtered file format removes Microsoft Office-specific tags. If users save in filtered HTML and then re-open the file in an Office application, text and general appearance are preserved. However, some features might work differently.
.mht; .mhtml Single File Web Page A web page as a single file that includes an .htm file and all supporting files, such as images, sound files, cascading style sheets, scripts, and more.
.odt OpenDocument Text A file format for saving Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013 files so that they can be opened in document applications that use the OpenDocument format. Users can also open documents in the .odt format in Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013. Formatting might be lost when users save and open .odt files.
.pdf PDF Portable Document Format (PDF), a PostScript-based electronic file format that was developed by Adobe Systems. It preserves document formatting and enables file sharing.

Files that use the PDF file format can be saved and opened by using Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013.

Important: PDF files might not have a perfect page-to-page correspondence with the original. For example, the pages might break at different locations.

.rtf Rich Text Format RTF controls the representation and formatting of a document, both on the screen and in print. When they use the .rtf file format, documents created under different operating systems and with different software applications can be transferred between those operating systems and applications.
.txt Plain Text When users save a document as a .txt file, the document loses all formatting.
.wps Works 6-9 Document This is the default file format of Microsoft Works, versions 6.0 through 9.0.
.xml Word 2003 XML Document The XML format supported in Office Word 2003.
.xml Word XML Document The XML file format supported in Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Office Word 2007 (Open XML).
.xps XPS Document XML Paper Specification, a file format that preserves document formatting and enables file sharing. When the XPS file is viewed online or printed, it keeps exactly the format that users intended, and the data in the file can’t be easily changed.

You can use Word 2019, Word 2016, or Word 2013 to save documents in the XPS Document file format, but you can’t open them by using Word 2019, Word 2016, or Word 2013.

File formats that are supported in Excel

The following tables describe the file formats that are supported in Excel.

Extension Name of file format Description
.csv CSV (Comma delimited) Saves a workbook as a comma-delimited text file for use on another Windows operating system, and makes sure that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.
.csv CSV (Macintosh) Saves a workbook as a comma-delimited text file for use on the Macintosh operating system, and makes sure that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.
.csv CSV (MS-DOS) Saves a workbook as a comma-delimited text file for use on the MS-DOS operating system, and makes sure that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.
.dbf DBF 3, DBF 4 dBase III and IV. Users can open these files formats in Excel 2019, Excel 2016, and Excel 2013, but, users can’t save an Excel file to dBase format.
.dif DIF (Data Interchange Format) Saves only the active sheet.
.htm, .html Web Page A web page that is saved as a folder that contains an .htm file and all supporting files, such as images, sound files, scripts, and more.
.mht, .mhtml Single File Web Page A web page that is saved as a single file that includes an .htm file and all supporting files, such as images, sound files, scripts, and more.
.ods OpenDocument Spreadsheet A file format for saving Excel 2019, Excel 2016, and Excel 2013 files so that they can be opened in spreadsheet applications that use the OpenDocument Spreadsheet format, such as Google Docs and OpenOffice.org Calc. Users can also open spreadsheets in the .ods format in Excel 2019, Excel 2016, and Excel 2013. When users save and open .ods files, they might lose formatting.
.pdf PDF Portable Document Format, a format that preserves document formatting and enables file sharing. When the PDF format file is viewed online or printed, it keeps the format that users intended. Data in the file can’t be easily changed. The PDF format is also useful for documents that will be reproduced by using commercial printing methods.
.prn Formatted Text (Space delimited) Lotus space-delimited format. Saves only the active sheet.
.slk SYLK (Symbolic Link Format) Saves only the active sheet.
.txt Text (Tab delimited) Saves a workbook as a tab-delimited text file for use on another Windows operating system, and makes sure that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.
.txt Text (Macintosh) Saves a workbook as a tab-delimited text file for use on the Macintosh operating system, and makes sure that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.
.txt Text (MS-DOS) Saves a workbook as a tab-delimited text file for use on the MS-DOS operating system, and makes sure that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are interpreted correctly. Saves only the active sheet.
.txt Unicode Text Saves a workbook as Unicode text, a character encoding standard that was developed by the Unicode Consortium. Saves only the active sheet.
.xla Excel 97-2003 Add-In The Excel 97-2003 Add-In, a supplemental program that runs additional code and supports VBA projects.
.xlam Excel Add-In The XML-based and macro-enabled Add-In format for Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, and Office Excel 2007. An Add-In is a supplemental program that runs additional code. Supports VBA projects and Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).
.xls Excel 97-Excel 2003 Workbook The Excel 97-Excel 2003 Binary file format.
.xls Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook The Excel 5.0/95 Binary file format.
.xlsb Excel Binary Workbook The binary file format for Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, and Excel 2010 and Office Excel 2007. This is a fast load-and-save file format for users who need the fastest way possible to load a data file. Supports VBA projects, Excel 4.0 macro sheets, and all the new features that are used in Excel. But, this isn’t an XML file format and is therefore not optimal for accessing and manipulating content without using Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010 or Excel 2007 and the object model.
.xlsm Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook The XML-based and macro-enabled file format for Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010 and Office Excel 2007. Stores VBA macro code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).
.xlsx Excel Workbook The default XML-based file format for Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, and Office Excel 2007. Can’t store VBA macro code or Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).
.xlsx Strict Open XML Spreadsheet An ISO strict version of the Excel Workbook file format (.xlsx).
.xlt Excel 97 — Excel 2003 Template The Excel 97 — Excel 2003 Binary file format for an Excel template.
.xltm Excel Macro-Enabled Template The macro-enabled file format for an Excel template for Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, and Office Excel 2007. Stores VBA macro code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).
.xltx Excel Template The default file format for an Excel template for Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, and Office Excel 2007. Can’t store VBA macro code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm).
.xlw Excel 4.0 Workbook An Excel 4.0 file format that saves only worksheets, chart sheets, and macro sheets. Users can open a workbook in this file format in Excel 2019, Excel 2016, and Excel 2013. But, users can’t save an Excel file to this file format.
.xml XML Spreadsheet 2003 XML Spreadsheet 2003 file format.
.xml XML Data XML Data format.
.xps XPS Document XML Paper Specification, a file format that preserves document formatting and enables file sharing. When the XPS file is viewed online or printed, it maintains exactly the format that users intended, and the data in the file can’t be easily changed.

File formats that are supported in PowerPoint

The following tables describe the file formats that are supported in PowerPoint.

Extension Name of file format Description
.bmp Device Independent Bitmap A slide that is saved as a graphic for use on web pages.
.emf Enhanced Windows Metafile A slide that is saved as a 32-bit graphic (for use with Microsoft Windows 95 and later versions).
.gif GIF Graphics Interchange Format A slide that is saved as a graphic for use on web pages.
.jpg JPEG File Interchange Format A slide that is saved as a graphic for use on web pages.
.mp4 MPEG-4 Video A presentation that is saved as a video.
.odp OpenDocument Presentation A format that can be opened in presentation applications that use the OpenDocument Presentation format, such as Google Docs and OpenOffice.org Impress. Users can also open presentations in the .odp format in PowerPoint. Some information might be lost when users save and open .odp files.
.pdf PDF Portable Document Format, a PostScript-based electronic file format that was developed by Adobe Systems. It preserves document formatting and enables file sharing.
.png PNG Portable Network Graphics Format A slide that is saved as a graphic for use on web pages.
.pot PowerPoint 97-2003 Template A template for PowerPoint 97 to Office PowerPoint 2003 presentations.
.potm PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Template A template for PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, and Office PowerPoint 2007 presentations that contain macros.
.potx PowerPoint Template A template for creating new PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, and Office PowerPoint 2007 presentations.
.ppa PowerPoint 97-2003 Add-In A PowerPoint 97 to Office PowerPoint 2003 add-in.
.ppam PowerPoint Add-In An add-in that stores custom commands, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code, and specialized features.
.pps PowerPoint 97-2003 show A presentation that always opens in Slide Show view instead of in Normal view.
.ppsm PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Show A slide show that includes macros.
.ppsx PowerPoint Show A presentation that always opens in Slide Show view instead of in Normal view.
.ppt PowerPoint 97-2003 Presentation The default PowerPoint 97 to Office PowerPoint 2003 format.
.pptm PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation A presentation that contains Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code.
.pptx PowerPoint Presentation The default PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, and Office PowerPoint 2007 XML-based file format.
.pptx PowerPoint Picture Presentation A PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010 or PowerPoint 2007 presentation where each slide is converted into a picture. Saving a file as a PowerPoint Picture presentation reduces the file size, but some information is lost.
.pptx Strict Open XML Presentation An ISO strict version of the PowerPoint Presentation file format (.pptx).
.rtf Outline/RTF A presentation outline that is saved as a text-only document that provides smaller file sizes and the ability to share macro-free files with other users who might not have the same version of PowerPoint or the operating system. Any text in the notes pane isn’t saved with this file format.
.thmx Office Theme A style sheet that includes definitions of a color theme, font theme, and effect theme.
.tif TIFF Tag Image File Format A slide that is saved as a graphic for use on web pages.
.wmf Windows Metafile A slide that is saved as a 16-bit graphic (for use with Microsoft Windows 3. x and later versions).
.wmv Windows Media Video A presentation that is saved as a video. PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, and PowerPoint 2013 presentations can be saved at High Quality (1024 x 768, 30 frames per second); Medium Quality (640 x 480, 24 frames per sec); and Low Quality (320 X 240, 15 frames per second).

The WMV file format plays on many media players, such as Windows Media Player.

.xml PowerPoint XML Presentation The XML format that is supported in PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, and Office PowerPoint 2007.
.xps XPS Document XML Paper Specification (XPS), an electronic paper format for exchanging documents in their final form.

Unsupported file formats in Office

Office applications don’t support the file formats described in the following table

Application Unsupported file format
Excel — Excel Chart (Excel 2.0, 3.0, and 2.x file formats) (.xlc)
— Lotus 1-2-3 file formats (all versions) (.wk1, .wk2, .wk3, .wk4, .wks)
— Microsoft Works (all versions) (.wks)
— DBASE II file format (.dbf)
— Quattro Pro for MS-DOS file format (.wq1)
— Quattro Pro 5.0 and 7.0 for Windows (.wb1, .wb3)
PowerPoint — Opening or saving to PowerPoint 95 (or earlier) file formats
— Pack and Go Wizard (.ppz) files.
— Web Page (.htm, .html) files

Additional file format information

This section provides additional file formats and whether they’re supported in the applications in Office.

Microsoft Office Clipboard file formats

Users can paste data from the Office Clipboard into Word, Excel, and PowerPoint if the Office Clipboard data is in one of the formats shown in the following table.

File format Extension Description
Picture .wmf or .emf Pictures in Windows Metafile Format (WMF) or Windows Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF).

Note: If users copy a Windows metafile picture from another program, Excel pastes the picture as an enhanced metafile.

Bitmap .bmp Pictures stored in Bitmap format (BMP).
Excel file formats .xls Binary file formats for Excel versions 5.0/95, Excel 97-2003, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, and Excel 2019.
SYLK .slk Symbolic Link Format.
DIF .dif Data Interchange Format.
Text (tab-delimited) .txt Tab-separated text format.
CSV (Comma-delimited) .csv Comma-separated values format.
Formatted text (Space-delimited) .rtf Rich Text Format (RTF). Only from Excel.
Embedded object .gif, .jpg, .doc, .xls, or .bmp Excel objects, Excel 2013 objects, objects from correctly registered programs that support OLE 2.0 (OwnerLink), and Picture or another presentation format.
Linked object .gif, .jpg, .doc, .xls, or .bmp OwnerLink, ObjectLink, Link, Picture, or other format.
Office drawing object .emf Office drawing object format or Picture (Windows enhanced metafile format, EMF).
Text .txt Display Text, OEM Text.
HTML .htm, .html Hypertext Markup Language.

Note: When users copy text from another program, Excel pastes the text in HTML format, regardless of the format of the original text.

Single File Web Page mht, .mhtml This file format integrates inline graphics, applets, linked documents, and other supporting items referenced in the document.

Opening or viewing unsupported file formats

If the file format that users want to use isn’t supported, they can try the following methods to open the file.

Search the internet for a company that makes file format converters for file formats that aren’t supported in the application.

Save to a file format that another program supports. For example, users might want to import their Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file into another program that doesn’t support the application’s native file format. However, the other program might support importing another supported file format, such as a text file format. In this case, users can save their work in text file format, and then from the other program, import the text file.

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Microsoft created and released the spreadsheet program known as Excel. It comes from the Microsoft Office family of productivity programs. Excel groups data into columns and rows as opposed to a word processor like Microsoft Word. A cell is a location where rows and columns cross. Data, such as text, a number, or a formula, are contained in each cell. They might not be able to display every feature of a file, programs that are compatible with a file format can present an overview of a file. When we want to save our files, we will have numerous file formats including Excel workbooks, templates, etc. These file formats are divided into various types, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint presentations.

File formats in Excel are of various types, but to determine how many formats exist in Excel, we must follow the procedure outlined below: 

Step 1: Click on the file option at the top of the ribbon.

Click on the file option.

Step 2: Select the Save As option. The Workbook can be saved on local devices (like a computer) and the internet (e.g. OneDrive).

Select the Save As option.

Step 3: Click on the option Browse and save as the dialog box opens. 

save as dialog box open.

Step 4: Choose the Save As option and you will see a list of file formats. Depending on the type of active Worksheet in your Workbook, several file types will be displayed (Data Worksheet, Chart Worksheet, or another type of Worksheet).

Select the desired file format.

Step 5: Select the desired file format by clicking.

Excel File Formats

Excel Workbook

Extension: .xlsx

Spreadsheet files were created using Excel version 2007 and later have this extension. Currently, the default file extension for Excel files is XLSX. XML is the foundation of the file format XSLX. With the aid of this technology, XSLX files are significantly lighter and smaller than XLS files, which immediately results in space savings. Excel documents may be downloaded or uploaded more quickly. The only drawback of this XSLX extension is that it cannot open files created before Excel 2007.

Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook

Extension: .xlsm

With Excel 2007 and later, including Excel macros, the spreadsheet produces files with this suffix. It’s simple to deduce that a file contains a macro with the aid of an extension. This version was created for security purposes to prevent computer viruses, harmful macros, infecting machines, etc. from accessing a file. When it comes to security and macros, this file extension is quite dependable.

Excel Binary Workbook

Extension: .xlsb

When it comes to compressing, storing, opening, etc., this file extension type completely supports excel files that include a lot of data or information. It takes a lot of time to open and process an excel file with a lot of data. It occasionally hangs while opening and regularly crashes.

Template

Extension: .xltx

A template made by the spreadsheet program Microsoft Excel, part of the Microsoft Office family, is known as an XLTX file. It has predetermined layout options that may be used to produce several Excel spreadsheets (typically.XLSX files) with the same formatting and characteristics. XLTX files that give you a head start when making spreadsheets like bills, calendars, and budget plans. Additionally, you may make unique templates using your spreadsheets.

Template (code)

Extension: .xltm

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet template with macro support is known as an XLTM file. It may also keep settings, spreadsheet data, and information about the layout in addition to one or more macros. When looking to generate several spreadsheets (primarily. XLSM) with the same data and style, Excel users save spreadsheets as XLTM files.
XLTX files and XLTM files are related. XLTM files, on the other hand, enable macros, which are collections of instructions that a user has organized so they may swiftly carry out a time-consuming or difficult operation, including formatting a document, inputting data, or conducting computations.

Excel Add-In

Extension: .xlam

The spreadsheet program Microsoft Excel, part of the Microsoft Office family, uses XLAM files, and add-ins that support macros. It is used in Excel to add new features and instructions. While some XLAM files are produced by Microsoft, others are produced by Excel users and third-party developers. Microsoft Excel users can add more features since different users use the program for various, specialized purposes. Users must install an XLAM file-based Excel add-in to add this functionality.

XML Spreadsheet 2003

Extension: .xml

A plain text document is an XML file, and to distinguish them, they are saved with the.xml file extension. The XML file format was created to convey data over the internet and can hold hundreds of entries in the computation. Either humans or machines can read it.. The majority of programming languages make use of XML libraries to do the parsing. Down-converting is the process of converting XML files to other required forms.

XML Data

Extension: .xml

Other description languages like RSS, DOCX format, XSL, and Microsoft don’t employ XML as a format. The text editor notepad++ can open this XML file natively. We need to have a few interactions with the various file organizations to manage the different file formats. The only organization that is required for data and web pages is XML. Next, you could double-click the browser—the file’s default viewer—on occasion to examine a file.

Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook

Extension: .xls

A spreadsheet file, known as an XLS file, can be produced by Microsoft Excel or exported by another spreadsheet application, like OpenOffice Calc or Apple Numbers. It includes one or more worksheets that store and present data as tables. The Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (XLS) binary format was introduced together with the initial 1987 version of Excel. Up to the introduction of Excel 2007, XLS files became one of the most used file formats for preserving spreadsheets. Microsoft replaced XLS files with the Microsoft Excel Open XML Spreadsheet (XLSX) format with this version. Excel spreadsheets are often saved in XLSX files.

Excel 4.0 Workbook

Extension: .xlw

Workspace files, which are saved in the well-known spreadsheet program Microsoft Excel, have the .xlw file extension. Workbook file references and screen locations are stored in files with the .xlw extension. When .xlw files are opened, the program can move them back to the spot on the screen where they were stored. .xlw files are essential for restoring layouts when a user is working on many workbooks at once. .xlw files only refer to workbook layouts on the screen, therefore they should not be mistaken for files that contain workbook data. These files are primarily utilized by Microsoft Excel 2010 and 2011, and users need to have all workbook files to correctly reopen these files.

Works 6.0-9.0 spreadsheet

Extension: .xlr

The file format specifications for XLR files were not made publicly available and were instead kept as binary files. Developers are consequently unable to examine the file system and create programs that read from and write to these files programmatically. The Works Spreadsheet saves data to.xlr files using the same Excel file format.

Text File Formats

Formatted Text (Space-delimited)

Extension: .prn

A PRN file is one that was made using the Print to File checkbox that may be found in several Windows Print dialogue boxes. A printer, fax machine, or other device utilizes it to print a document because it contains a set of device-specific instructions. Depending on the device the file was produced for, PRN files may include text or binary information.

Text (Tab-delimited)

Extension: .txt

An ordinary text document with simple text is known as a TXT file. Any text-editing or word-processing application may open and edit it. The most widely used text editors for producing TXT files are Apple TextEdit and Microsoft Notepad, which come pre-installed with Windows and macOS, respectively. TXT files are plain text files with very little to no formatting. They are utilized to manage manuscripts, detailed instructions, notes, and other text-based information.
When a user of TextEdit saves a document as a TXT file, those applications remove the document’s formatting (bolding, italicization, font style, alignment, etc.). Most users don’t store more complex text documents, including flyers, reports, letters, or resumes, as TXT files. Instead, they save them as other types of files.

Text (Macintosh)

Extension: .txt

This function guarantees that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are properly understood when a workbook is saved as a tab-delimited text file for usage on the Macintosh operating system. only saves the active sheet.

Text (MS-DOS)

Extension: .txt

Ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are properly understood when saving a workbook as a tab-delimited text file for use on the MS-DOS operating system. only saves the active sheet.

DIF

Extension: .dif

Data interchange format, or DIF for short, is a widely accepted standard for exporting spreadsheets. Users can export data from a spreadsheet in a format that can be loaded by several other programs using DIF files. The format has the drawback of not supporting numerous spreadsheets. This indicates that just one spreadsheet may be stored in a DIF file. As a result, you will need to make numerous DIF files if you wish to export many spreadsheets in the DIF format.

Unicode Text

Extension: .txt

The workbook can be saved as Unicode text, a character encoding standard created by the Unicode Consortium.

SYLK

Extension: .slk

A file stored in the Symbolic Link (SYLK) format, developed by Microsoft to transmit data between spreadsheet applications and other databases, is referred to as an SLK file. It has semicolons between lines of text that describe the cell row, column, layout, and content. An ANSI text file format is used to hold SLK files. SYLK (Symbolic Link) codes, such “E,” which stands for an expression within a cell, are used to record complex formulae.

CSV (comma delimited)

Extension: .csv

The Comma Separated Value (CSV) file extension is frequently used to identify files in this format. An easy text format for a database table is a comma-separated values file. A row in the table is represented by one line in the CSV file. Fields from different table columns are separated inside the line by commas. The CSV file format is straightforward and is accepted by a wide range of software. Moving tabular data between two separate computer applications sometimes involves the usage of csv files.

CSV (Macintosh)

Extension: .csv

Ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are properly understood when saving a workbook as a comma-delimited text file for usage on the Macintosh operating system. Only saves the active sheet.

CSV (MS-DOS)

Extension: .csv

Ensures that tab characters, line breaks, and other characters are properly understood when saving a workbook as a comma-delimited text file for use on the MS-DOS operating system. only saves the active sheet.

Other File Formats

PDF

Extension: .pdf

Format for Portable Documents (PDF). This file format allows file sharing and maintains document layout. The format that you intended is kept when the PDF file is printed or read online. The file’s data cannot be readily altered. For papers that will be printed using professional printing techniques, the PDF format is also beneficial. Note: Excel 2007 does not support this format.

Open document spreadsheet

Extension: .ods

The spreadsheet in OpenDocument. You can save Excel 2010 files so they can be opened in spreadsheet software like Google Docs and OpenOffice.org Calc which supports the OpenDocument Spreadsheet format. Additionally, Excel 2010 supports opening spreadsheets in the. ods format. When. ods, files are opened and saved, and formatting could be lost.

DBF 3, DBF 4

Extension: .dbf

The database management system program dBASE uses a standard database file called a DBF. It divides the information into several records with fields kept in an array data type. Due to the ubiquity of the file format, other “xBase” database tools are also compatible with DBF files. DBF files have been extensively embraced as a standard storage format for structured data in business applications due to their early adoption in the database community and a very simple file layout.

XPS Document

Extension: .xps

XML paper specification files are the ones with the .XPS suffix. These files have a predefined layout and are used to safeguard the accuracy of the data they contain. The sole distinction between them and the well-known PDF file format is the .XPS format’s usage of XML standards for its file structure. The data in your file may be read, shared, and modified using XPS files, which are simple to distribute online. It has become a well-liked substitute for the PDF file format as a result. Any software that runs on Windows and has printing capabilities may produce XPS files.

A file with XLSX, XLSM, XLS, XLTX or XLTM extension is a Microsoft Excel file that uses specific standard file format. You can show or display file extension on Windows OS from Folder Options. MS Excel lets you save files in any of these file formats using the Save As option. These Excel file formats serve different purposes for working with Spreadsheet files as explained in this article.

In addition to standard file formats, Excel indirectly uses other file formats as well for a set of different operations. For example, it uses Windows Metafile Format (WMF) or Windows Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF) when a windows metafile picture is copied and paste into Excel Worksheet.

excel-file-extensions

What is XLSX file?

An XLSX file is the default file format for Microsoft Excel that was introduced with Office 2007. It is based on Office Open XML standard that can be opened by a number of applications as well as APIs. The contents inside an XLSX file can be viewed by renaming XLSX extension to ZIP and opening it with any archiving software.

What is XLS file?

An XLS file is a spreadsheet file that is created in Excel Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF) and is proprietary to Microsoft. It can be created with Excel 2003 and earlier versions. An XLS file can be opened in the latest version of Microsoft Excel and can be saved as the latest version of spreadsheet file format i.e. XLSX. Microsoft Excel viewer provides the capability to open these files in read-only mode for reading purpose.

What is XLSM file?

An XLSM file is a Macro-enabled spreadsheet file that can store instructions to record the steps that are performed repeatedly. Macros are programmed in Microsoft Visual Basic for Application (VBA) from within the Excel Workbook. The Visual Basic editor is used to record and run macros in Excel.

XLSM files are similar to XLM file formats but are based on the Open XML format introduced in Microsoft Office 2007. In other words, XLSM are XLSX files but with support of macros. By default, Excel itself provides several macros for common use. However, you can also record your own macros with required functions.

What is XLTX file?

An XLTX file is an Excel Template file that preserves user defined settings. Excel 2007 and above can open XLTX files for creating new XLSX files that retain the settings from template. XLTX file format is based on the Office Open XML standard and can be viewed by remaining its extension to ZIP. Excel comes with predefined templates as well that can be opened and populated with spreadsheet data.

What is XLTM File?

An XLTM file is a Macro-Enabled template file that is created with Microsoft Excel. These are similar to XLTX but with additional feature of macros. Such template files are used to generate and set the layout, formatting, and other settings along with the macros to facilitate creating similar XLSX files then.


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