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.xlsx

Excel Workbook

Spreadsheets

The standard Excel workbook format retains sheets, formulas and formatting but not VBA macros. CSV is not an equivalent workbook replacement.

What it is used for
Spreadsheets with formulas and multiple sheets
What the file contains
Binary data
All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai

First: choose for your purpose

XLSX stores worksheets, formulas and formatting. Separate reading, reproducible calculation and CSV delivery. A workbook can open while external references or unsupported functions produce different results.

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

Windows: verify calculation in Excel

Open a saved workbook and inspect connection notices.

  1. Select a copy through File → Open and read Protected View/link-update notices.
  2. Inspect sheet lists, hidden sheets, the formula bar and totals; verify external sources before updating.
  3. Compare key values with the original/reference and save separately as XLSX.
macOS: Excel, Numbers or Calc

Check function and external-connection differences.

  1. Load an XLSX copy through a supporting app’s Open command.
  2. Review import warnings, formula errors, charts and dates.
  3. When exporting back from Numbers/Calc, reopen in Excel and verify recalculated values.
Mobile / web: inspection and limits

Browser and desktop capabilities differ.

  1. Open the saved workbook in a supporting app such as Excel and inspect every sheet.
  2. Use the prescribed desktop version for unsupported connections/features.
  3. Verify sync after editing; for PDF, check print area and page breaks before exporting.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

  • Check cell formatting for dates/scientific notation. Formatting cannot restore characters already lost.
  • Formula errors can reflect unsupported functions or missing references. Opening successfully does not validate calculations.
  • Totals do not update: inspect calculation mode, ranges and external links; displayed values may be cached.
  • Cannot open: try Open and Repair on a complete copy; missing/zero-byte data requires retrieval.
  • Charts/sheets absent from CSV: return to XLSX and export required sheets separately.

XLSX → CSV / PDF

  1. For data exchange save the selected sheet as a new CSV; for print distribution define print bounds and export PDF.
  2. Check CSV encoding/column counts or PDF clipping/page breaks.
  3. Verify sheets, dimensions, totals, dates and identifiers; check PDF print ranges.

CSV loses workbook structure, formatting and original formulas; PDF does not retain spreadsheet calculation. Keep XLSX.

Verify appearance and calculation separately

Inspect formulas as well as displayed values, checking for formula-to-value replacement, dates, precision, units and negatives.

Document external sources and update time; distinguish saved totals from recalculated results.

CSV versus PDF delivery

CSV delivers sheet text without formatting, charts, formulas or multi-sheet structure; treat identifiers as text.

PDF delivers print appearance; check sheets, print area, width and breaks while retaining XLSX for editing/calculation.

Source for these steps：Microsoft · File formats that are supported in Excel

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
Format / choicePurpose and preserved information
XLSXStores sheets/formulas/styles, without VBA macros.
CSVTabular text without multi-sheet structure or styling.
XLSMMacro-capable; assess execution support and trust separately.

Handling and security

Review external references and embedded elements. Lack of VBA support is not a blanket safety guarantee.

Questions and answers

Can XLSX store VBA?

No. XLSM is the usual macro-enabled Excel format.

Why did CSV keep only one sheet?

CSV stores one text table. Export needed sheets separately.

Why is PDF output clipped?

Adjust print bounds, page orientation and scaling in preview.

Do matching displayed values prove conversion success?

Check formulas, recalculation and references; cached values alone may match.

Does a browser support every feature?

No. Verify the calculation/connection features you need.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
Formal name
Office Open XML Spreadsheet
Steward / specification
ISO/IEC 29500 / Ecma / Microsoft
MIME type
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet

Primary and official sources