Although the Excel 2007 default file format is an XLSX workbook file, the program can also open and save a wide variety of other files. This section provides an overview of the file types that Excel 2007 can handle.
Note | Excel 2007 no longer supports Lotus or Quattro spreadsheet file formats. |
Excel 2007 uses a new default file format. However, it can still read and write older Excel file formats.
Tip | To change the default file save setting, choose Office Excel Options and click the Save tab in the Excel Options dialog box. You'll find a drop-down list that lets you select the default file format. |
Table 4-2 lists the Excel file types that Excel 2007 supports. Keep in mind that an Excel workbook or add-in file can have any extension that you like. In other words, these files don't need to be stored with the standard extensions shown in the table.
File Type | Extension | Read/Write | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Excel Workbook | xlsx | Yes/Yes | The default Excel 2007 file format. It cannot store VBA or XLM macro code. |
Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook | xlsm | Yes/Yes | The Excel 2007 file format for workbooks that contain macros. |
Excel Binary Workbook | xlsb | Yes/Yes | The Excel 2007 binary file format (BIFF12). This is an updated version of the previous XLS (BIFF8) format. |
Template | xltx | Yes/Yes | The Excel 2007 file format for a template. It cannot store VBA or XLM macro code. |
Macro-Enabled Template | xltxm | Yes/Yes | The Excel 2007 file format for a template that contains macros. |
Excel Add-In | xlam | Yes/Yes | The Excel 2007 file format for add-ins. It can store VBA and XLM macros. |
Excel 97 “Excel 2003 Workbook | xls | Yes/Yes | The Excel binary format (BIFF8) that's compatible with Excel 97 through Excel 2003. |
Excel 97 “Excel 2003 Template | xlt | Yes/Yes | The Excel binary template format (BIFF8) that's compatible with Excel 97 through Excel 2003. |
Excel 97 “Excel 2003 Add-In | xla | Yes/Yes | The Excel binary format (BIFF8) for add-ins that's compatible with Excel 97 through Excel 2003. |
Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook | xls | Yes/Yes | The Excel binary format (BIFF5) that's compatible with Excel 5.0 and Excel 95. |
XML Spreadsheet 2003 | xml | Yes/Yes | Microsoft's XML Spreadsheet 2003 file format (XMLSS). |
XML Data | xml | Yes/Yes | A general XML file that contains data. |
Note | Microsoft Office XP and Office 2003 users can install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack, which allows them to open and save documents in the Office 2007 file formats. The Compatibility Pack is available at http://www.office.microsoft.com. |
When you attempt to load a text file into Excel, the Text Import Wizard might kick in to help you specify how you want the file retrieved.
Tip | To bypass the Text Import Wizard, press Shift when you click OK in the Open dialog box. |
Table 4-3 lists the text file types supported by Excel 2007. All text file formats are limited to a single worksheet.
File Type | Extension | Read/Write | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
CSV (comma separated variable) | csv | Yes/Yes | Columns are delimited with a comma, and rows are delimited with a carriage return. Excel supports subtypes for Macintosh and MS-DOS. |
Formatted Text | prn | Yes/Yes | Columns are delimited with a space character, and rows are delimited with a carriage return. |
Text | txt | Yes/Yes | Columns are delimited with a tab, and rows are delimited with a carriage return. Excel supports subtypes for Macintosh, MS-DOS, and Unicode. |
Data Interchange Format (DIF) | dif | Yes/Yes | The file format originally used by VisiCalc. |
Symbolic Link (SYLK) | slk | Yes/Yes | The file format originally used by Multiplan. |
Table 4-4 lists the database file types supported by Excel 2007. All database file formats are limited to a single worksheet.
File Type | Extension | Read/Write | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Access | mdb, mde, accdb, accde | Yes/No | You can open one table from the database. |
dBASE | dbf | Yes/No | The file format originally created by Ashton-Tate |
Others | Various | Yes/No | By using the commands in the Data Get External Data group , you can import data from various data sources that have connections or queries defined on your system. |
Table 4-5 lists the other file types supported by Excel 2007.
File Type | Extension | Read/Write | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) | htm, html | Yes/Yes | Excel 2007 no longer supports "round-tripping" for HTML files. |
Single File Web Page | mht, mhtml | Yes/Yes | Also known as Archived Web Page. The only browser that can display these files is Microsoft Internet Explorer. |
Portable Document Format (PDF) | | No/Yes | The file format originated by Adobe. Requires a free add-in from Microsoft. |
XML Paper Specification | xps | No/Yes | Microsoft's alternative to Adobe's PDF. Requires a free add-in from Microsoft. |
A workspace file is a special file that contains information about an Excel workspace. For example, if you have a project that uses two workbooks and you like to have the workbook windows arranged in a particular way, you can save an XLW file to save this window configuration. Then, whenever you open the XLW file, Excel restores the desired workspace.
To save a workspace, choose View Window Save Workspace, and provide a name when prompted.
To open a workspace file, use Office Open and select Workspaces (*.xlw) from the Files of Type drop-down list.
It's important to understand that a workspace file does not include the workbooks - only the configuration information that makes those workbooks visible in your Excel workspace. So if you need to distribute a workspace to someone else, make sure that you include the workbook files as well as the XLW file.