Buzz
Learn how to access and manipulate your ODS files in Excel
Key Points to Note
- Excel can directly handle ODS files without conversion.
- In Excel for Mac, you'll need to save the ODS file as XSLX before editing.
- If you prefer conversion, you can use CloudConvert, a free online tool.
Step-by-Step Guide
Opening Using Excel
Launch Excel. Microsoft Office suite can handle Open Office files like ODS spreadsheets.
Go to File >
Open. On Windows, you'll need to click the Browse button.
Locate your file. Use the browsing window to locate your ODS file.
Access the file. The ODS file will open in Excel. Note that there might be some variations in formatting between the original document and the one opened in Excel due to differences in the programs.
- If you're using a Mac, you'll find the file opens in Read Only mode. To edit, save the ODS file as an OOXML file by going to File > Save As and saving it as a new .xslx (OOXML) file. Then, open the .xslx file to make edits.
Conversion to XLS Format
Visit CloudConvert. Access CloudConvert, a platform offering free file conversion services.
Click Select File. Alternatively, use the dropdown beside Select File to specify how you want to provide the file, such as uploading from Google Drive or Dropbox.
Locate your ODS file and choose it. Once selected, CloudConvert will automatically recognize the file type (.ods) and set it in the 'convert' dropdown.
- If CloudConvert doesn't detect your file type automatically, manually select it by clicking the dropdown and choosing ODS under the Spreadsheet category.
Choose XLSX from the 'to' dropdown. Alternatively, you can opt for XLS, but modern Excel versions prefer the XSLX file format.
Click the Convert button. CloudConvert initiates the conversion process, displaying a progress bar so you can track its status. The conversion may take a few moments.
Retrieve the converted file. Once conversion is complete, simply click the green Download button to obtain the file. If your browser doesn't prompt for a download location, check your Downloads folder.
Access the converted file in Excel. You can now open the XSLX file in Excel and start editing it.
Additional Information
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OpenOffice is a free productivity suite with various applications including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, formula editor, and database management. You can download it from www.openoffice.org to open ODS files.
