Updated August 16, 2023
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 the Saved File?
Extensions of Excel
Excel is one of the tools with various extensions in which we can save the file. A commonly used extension of Excel is .xlsx, which is used for storing a simple type of data. XLS is another default extension type 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 separated by commas. XLSB extension is used for compression, saving, opening, etc.
For example, the filename “XYZ.doc” has a “.doc” 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. Before Excel 2007, the file extension was XLS. This extension refers to a file that contains all types 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 this technology, the file with XSLX format is much less in weight or size, and compared to the XLS file format, this leads directly to saving space. It requires less time to download or upload Excel documents.
The only disadvantage of this XSLX extension is that this version is incompatible with running files before Excel 2007.
- XLSM – Excel File Extension
The spreadsheet with the Excel version 2007 onwards generates this extension file type, 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 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 hung and frequently crashes.
How to Change the Excel File Format or Extension?
To change the file extension, follow the below steps:
- Open the workbook for which you want to change the format.
- Go to the FILE tab.
- It will open a left-pane window. There are a lot of options available in this pane. Refer to the below screenshot.
- Click on the Save As option, as shown below.
- It will open a dialog box, as shown below.
- Now you need to select where to save the file in the system. Refer to the below screenshot.
- I have selected the Desktop for saving this file as a destination.
- Under the File name field, give the file name for the workbook.
- Under the 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.
- Choose the file format and click the Save button to save the file.
- It will save the file with the extension.
How do you know the File Type of the Saved File?
For this, follow the 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.
- It will open a Properties window. Refer to the below screenshot.
- Under the Type of File option, you can see the file type or extension of the file. Refer to the below screenshot.
Things to Remember about Excel File Formats
- If 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.
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