The .xls file extension format is used by Microsoft Excel, in creating a worksheet. Microsoft Excel is arguably the highest-used spreadsheet program all over the world. These files are the spreadsheets which include workbooks, worksheets and cells. The data is entered into the tabular cells and these files are most commonly-used to create graphs, charts and numerical sheet representations. The extension .xls is used by Microsoft Excel Version 97-2003 only. The later version of MS Excel, i.e. 2007 uses the .xlsx extension for its spreadsheet files.
So, where are all .xls files used?
XLS technically stands for Excel Spreadsheet. Excel uses a primary format to save all its files in the manner. This format is called the Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF). Microsoft Excel is the best program to open the files with the .xls extensions. However, they can also be opened with Open Office. There are different format extensions in which the XLS files are available. They are application/vnd.ms-excel (officially used by Microsoft Excel), application/msexcel, application/x-msexcel, application/x-ms-excel, application/vnd.ms-excel, application/x-excel, application/x-dos_ms_excel and application/xls.
What is an Excel sheet?
Well, most of us already know what an excel sheet is. Yet, for the purpose of defining, an Excel spreadsheet is a tabular division of rows and columns which are further divided into the smallest units called cells. The text is entered in these cells. Such spreadsheets are of great use for the representation of tabular data and numerical figures. These files are generally used by the business and corporate classes for the tabular and diagrammatical representation of data through charts and tables. The files with the . XLS are very easy to open and access. By simply double-clicking the file icon, it will automatically get opened with Microsoft Excel, or any other spreadsheet viewer for that matter, according to the system’s programs.
So, what more can XLS files do?
In addition to this, these files are not too large. This is why a handsome amount of data can be transferred through the .xls extension files via emails or through Microsoft Outlook. The .xls files are also a very safe way of transferring data as Microsoft Excel also gives an option to secure these files by adding password protection to open or modify a document, protect a workbook and to protect the sharing of the workbooks.
Open XLS File on Windows OS
- Look for an XLS file you need to open in Windows Explorer and double-click on it
- If the file doesn’t open automatically and you see a “Windows can’t open a file” message then you should search for a program which can open XLS file
- If you have a program which can open XLS file installed on your computer then launch that program and select “File” and then “Open” or similar options from its menu to open the XLS file
- If you don’t have the program installed then you need to try searching for “XLS wiki”, “how to open XLS file” in the search engine.
- Once you find the application, install it on your computer
- After the program is installed double-click on the XLS file to open it
File extensions are used by Windows operating system to specify what kind of information is stored in the file. Every file in Windows OS needs to have file extension and file extensions are used by Windows to determine which application it should use to open the file. Every application installed on Windows OS places information about which extensions it could open into the Windows registry and Windows uses this information to determine which application it should launch when user double-clicks on the file. If application which can open XLS file is not installed, then Windows will show ‘Windows can’t open XLS file’ message and buttons to either select an application on the computer which can open the file or to search the web for the application which can open XLS file.