XLS and XLSX are the file extension of the Microsoft spreadsheet called Excel. On Excel, you can arrange and store a lot of data in an organized form.
A file with the XLSX file extension is a Microsoft Excel Open XML Format Spreadsheet file. It's a ZIP-compressed, XML-based spreadsheet file created by Microsoft Excel version 2007 and later. XLSX files organize data in cells that are stored in worksheets, which are in turn stored in workbooks (files that contain multiple worksheets). Multitrack mp3 player. The name refers both to the Excel Binary File Format (.xls) in use until Excel 2007, and to the Office Open XML spreadsheet format (.xlsx) in use by Excel 2007 and later revisions. With Excel® 2007, Microsoft® introduced enhanced spreadsheet functionality in a new workbook file format. Using WebFOCUS, you can retrieve data from any WebFOCUS supported data source and generate a native XLSX format (Excel 2007, Excel 2010, and Excel 2013) workbook for data analysis and distribution.
The main difference between these two file extensions is that the XLSis created on the version of Excel prior to 2007 while XLSX is created on the version of Excel 2007 and onward. They are also different on the basis of information storing way. XLS is a binary format while that XLSX is Open XML format.
Comparison Chart
Basis | XLS | XLSX |
The Difference | XLS is the default file format for the 2003 version of Excel | XLSX is the file format for versions since 2007. |
Version | older version | latest version |
Performance | XLS files are faster especially on files that require the use of the complex formulas for a large set of data. | XLSX files are slower especially on files that require the use of the complex formula for a large set of data. |
Readability | Readable by all Microsoft Excel versions. | Only readable by Microsoft Excel versions 2007 and onwards. |
Based On | Proprietary Binary Format. | Open XML format. |
Capability | XLS is capable of Macros or not. | XLSX is not capable to support Macros. |
Number of Rows and Columns | the last row is 65536 and last column is IV (256 columns). | the last row number is 1048576 and the last column letter is XFD (16384 columns). |
What is XLS?
XLS is the file extension of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. It is created in the versions of Excel prior to 2007. It is a binary format based upon Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF) and thus it stores information in binary format. It is capable of holding the spreadsheets either containing macros or not.
What is XLSX?
XLSX is also the file extension of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. It is created in the versions of the Excel 2007 and onward. It is based on Open XML format. So it stores the information in text file using XML. It doesn’t support the macros.
Key Differences between XLS and XLSX
- XLSX is the latest version of Microsoft Excel’s as compare to XLS.
- XLS is created on the version of Excel prior to 2007 while XLSX is created on the version of Excel 2007 and onward.
- XLS is a binary format while that XLSX is Open XML format.
- XLS stores information in the binary format while XLSX stores the information in a text file using XML.
- XLS is readable by all versions of Microsoft Excel while XLSX is readable by 2007 version of Microsoft Excel and onward.
- XLSX is able to read the files in XLS but vice versa is not possible.
- XLS is capable of holding the spreadsheets either containing macros or not while XLSX is not capable to support macros.
Video Explanation
Related Differences
Excel is a spreadsheet application developed and published by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software.
Unlike a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, Excel organizes data in columns and rows. Rows and columns intersect at a space called a cell. Each cell can contain a single of data, such as text, a numerical value, or a formula.
Excel was originally code-namedOdyssey during development. It was first released on September 30, 1985.
- Microsoft Excel help and support.
Excel overview
Excel is a tool for organizing and performing calculations on data. It can analyze data, calculate statistics, generate pivot tables, and represent data as a chart or graph.
Open Excel Xlsx Files
For example, you could create an Excel spreadsheet that calculates a monthly budget, tracks associated expenses, and interactively sorts the data by criteria.
Below is an example of Microsoft Excel with each of its major sections highlighted. See the formula bar, cell, column, row, or sheet tab links for further information about each of these sections.
Where do you find or start Excel?
If you have Excel or the entire Microsoft Office package installed on Microsoft Windows, you can find Excel in your Start menu.
Keep in mind that new computers do not include Excel. It must be purchased and installed before running it on your computer. If you do not want (or cannot afford) to purchase Excel, you can use a limited version for free at the Microsoft Office website.
If Excel is installed on your computer, but you can't find it in your Start menu, use the following steps to launch Excel manually.
- Open My Computer.
- Click on or select the C: drive. If Microsoft Office is installed on a drive other than the C: drive, select that drive instead.
- Navigate to the Program Files (x86) folder, then the Microsoft Office folder.
- In the Microsoft Office folder, if there is a root folder, open that folder. Then open the OfficeXX folder, where XX is the version of Office (e.g., Office16 for Microsoft Office 2016) installed on your computer. If there is no root folder, look for and open a folder having 'Office' in the name.
- Look for a file named EXCEL.EXE and click or double-click that file to start the Excel program.
What Is Excel Xlsx Format Pdf
How can Excel be formatted?
Each of the rows, columns, and cells can be modified in many ways, including the background color, number or date format, size, text font, layout, etc. In our above example, you can see that the first row (row 1) has a blue background, bold text, and each cell has its text centered.
Download an example of a spreadsheet file
We've created a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that can be downloaded and opened in any spreadsheet program including Microsoft Excel. This spreadsheet illustrate some of the capabilities of a spreadsheet, formulas, and functions and allows you to experiment more with a spreadsheet.
Why do people use Excel?
There are many reasons people may use Excel (a spreadsheet program). For example, someone might use Excel to keep track of their expenses. For a full list of reason and examples of how people use a spreadsheet, see our spreadsheet definition.
What Is Excel Xlsx Format
Why would someone use Excel over a different spreadsheet program?
Today, there are many different free spreadsheet options that someone could use instead of Excel. However, even with the available free options, Excel remains the most-used spreadsheet because of all its available options, features, and because many businesses still use the program.
TipEven with all Excel's options, a free spreadsheet program like Google Sheets is often all most users need.
NoteIf you want to get Excel because it's a job requirement, it's still okay to learn all the basics in a free spreadsheet program. However, there are still many differences between Excel and a free spreadsheet program.
Excel file extensions
The following file extensions are supported by Microsoft Excel. The default format for saving a Microsoft Excel workbook is .xlsx.
Extension | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
.csv | CSV (Comma-separated values) | A minimal format compatible with many spreadsheet applications. Rows of data are represented as lines in the text file, with columnar breaks delimited by a single character, usually a comma. |
.dbf | DBF 3, DBF 4 | The native database file format of DBASE III and IV. |
.dif | Data interchange format | A feature-limited, widely-supported file format. Supports saving a single-page spreadsheet only. |
.htm, .html | HTML | Contains data formatted in HTML. When exported by Excel, supporting files such as images and sounds are stored in a folder. |
.mht, .mhtml | Single-page HTML | HTML-formatted single page data. |
.ods | OpenDocument Spreadsheet | An open-source file format supported by word processors including OpenOffice and LibreOffice. |
PDF (Portable Data Format) | An industry-standard document format created by Adobe. | |
.prn | Space-delimited formatted text | A format similar to CSV that supports text formatting, created by Lotus. Supports only a single sheet. |
.slk | SYLK Symbolic Link Format. | Supports only a single sheet. |
.txt | Tab-delimited text | A text file format similar to CSV, using tab as the delimiter character. Also, stores Unicode-encoded single-page spreadsheets. |
.xla | Excel Add-in | Supporting file for Visual Basic VBA projects, compatible with Excel 95-2003. |
.xlam | Excel Add-in with Macros | XML-based format compatible with Excel 2007 and 2013-2019, supporting VBA projects and Excel 4.0 macros. |
.xls | Excel Workbook (deprecated) | The native Excel file format for Excel versions 97-2003. |
.xlsb | Excel Binary Workbook | A fast load-and-save format compatible with Excel 2007-2019. Supports VBA projects and Excel 4.0 macros. |
.xlsm | Excel Workbook with Macros | XML-based format compatible with Excel 2007-2019, supporting VBA and Excel 4.0 macros. |
.xlsx | Excel Workbook | The native Excel file format for Excel versions 2007-2019. Supports 'ISO Strict' formatting. Does not support macros. |
.xlt | Excel Template (deprecated) | Excel template file format, Excel 97-2003. |
.xltx | Excel Template | Excel template file format, Excel 2007-2019. |
.xlw | Excel Workbook Only | Saves only worksheets, chart sheets, and macro sheets, but does not save spreadsheets. Compatible with Excel 2013-2019. |
.xml | XML Data | Spreadsheet data exported as XML. |
.xps | OpenXML Paper Specification | An open-source document format similar to PDF. |
What are the different versions of Microsoft Excel?
Microsoft Excel has had several versions throughout its history. The different releases, along with their release dates, are listed below.
Windows versions
- Excel 2019, released in 2018
- Office 365 and Excel 2016, released in 2016
- Excel 2013, released in 2013
- Excel 2010, released in 2010
- Excel 2007, released in 2007
- Excel 2003, released in 2003
- Excel 2002, released in 2002
- Excel 2000, released in 2000
- Excel 97, released in 1997
- Excel 95, released in 1995
- Excel 5.0, released in 1993
- Excel 4.0, released in 1992
- Excel 3.0, released in 1990
- Excel 2.0, released in 1987
Mac versions
- Excel 2019, released in 2018
- Excel 2016, released in 2016
- Excel 2011, released in 2011
- Excel 2008, released in 2008
- Excel 2004, released in 2004
- Excel 2001, released in 2001
- Excel 2000, released in 2000
- Excel 98, released in 1998
- Excel 5.0, released in 1993
- Excel 4.0, released in 1992
- Excel 3.0, released in 1990
- Excel 2.2, released in 1989
- Excel 1.5, released in 1988
- Excel 1, released in 1985
What came before Excel?
Microsoft Excel was not the first spreadsheet program, Lotus 1-2-3 and VisiCalc were popular spreadsheet programs released before Excel.
Related Excel pages
Xlsx File To Excel
- Microsoft Excel help and support.
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