XLS vs XLSX files.

Find out what XLS and XLSX files are and which one better meets your project needs.

Excel files are essential for crunching numbers and easily organizing data in personal and professional settings. Its built-in functions and formulas let users calculate data in a few clicks. Users can customize formatting, add a variety of charts, and do more to showcase data.

On the surface, saving your file as an XLS and XLSX looks similar, but several important differences are important to keep in mind. Both files originated in Microsoft Excel, but their tools and compatibility vary. Let’s dive into what makes up an XLSX vs XSL.

Is XLS the same as XLSX?

No, XLS and XLSX are not the same. XLS is used in versions of Microsoft Excel prior to 2007. XLS, which stands for Excel Spreadsheet, is a binary format. The data is encoded in such a way that it cannot be easily read by other applications. This file type has limited compatibility with newer spreadsheet programs. XLS files have a maximum of 65,535 rows and 255 columns.

XSLX, or Excel Open XML Spreadsheet, was introduced in Microsoft Excel 2007 and is included in any later versions. The file is based on the XML (Extensible Markup Language) format. When looking at XLS vs XLSX, XLSX files are a better option if you want to save on storage as they use a ZIP archive to compress their content. XLSX files store data in an XML format, which makes them more compatible and accessible for different applications. It is also fairly easy to convert XLSX to CSV if you need to. XLSX files can have a maximum of 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns.

Can you save XLS as XLSX?

Yes, you can save an XLS as an XLSX. Use the following steps:

1. Open your file in Excel.
2. Click File > Save As.
3. Choose Excel Workbook (*.xlsx).
4. Click Save.
5. Close, then reopen the XLSX workbook (.xlsx file extension) for the changes to take effect.

Once you’re finished editing your file, you can convert XLSX to PDF using Adobe Acrobat to ensure your document content can be shared and presented without any accidental edits. If you need to make changes again, you can always convert your PDF to XLSX again.

Now that you understand the differences between an XLS vs XLSX file, let’s explore whether using an XLSX or CSV in Excel is better.

Should I use XLSX or CSV in Excel?

If you want to maintain formatting, complex calculations, and present data, XLSX may be your best choice. A CSV file is a plain text file format, while XLSX allows for more formatting options. If you only need data for self-reference or to transfer between applications, you should use CSV as software can more easily read it. Once you are ready to share your data with others, you may want to use a PDF converter and change your CSV or XLSX to a PDF, as it looks the same across any device and is one of the most secure document types, keeping your important information safe.

Is Excel workbook the same as XLS?

Yes, an Excel workbook is the same as XLS. Likewise, an XLSX file is also considered a workbook. The file is called a workbook because it contains multiple worksheets or pages within a single file or book.

How to create an XLSX file.

You can use Microsoft Excel to create your XLSX file. However, if you don’t have this app on your device or you’d prefer to edit the file in the cloud, you can use Google Sheets, which is a free app available on the web as well as on Android and iOS devices.