Excel version confusion

I got an Excel file, actually it's a zip file which contains many folders and files including sheets in XML format. When I try to open it, Excel 2003 says "The file is not in a recognizable format"

I've uploaded to Google Documents, Google recognized the format then I've saved as Excel 2003.

I've already installed Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack.

I renamed .xls to .zip then unzipped the content. Below are the unzipped folder content:

xl

Content_Types.xml 

docProps        

_rels

How can I open that Excel File?

Download: excel.xls

Nime Cloud

Posted 2011-06-28T10:38:58.523

Reputation: 923

I just renamed .xls to .xlsx and Excel does open the file. – Nime Cloud – 2011-06-28T12:59:26.107

Answers

I expect this is new Office 2007 and higher format - so called OpenXML. I would try to change the zip extension (are you sure the extension is "ZIP"?) to "xlsx" and then try to open. You did not tell us your Office version, but I think Google Docs can handle this format, same with free LibreOffice. :-)

Juhele

Posted 2011-06-28T10:38:58.523

Reputation: 2 297

Yes, I renamed .xls to .zip then unzipped the content. – Nime Cloud – 2011-06-28T12:55:56.763

I just renamed .xls to .xlsx and Excel does open the file. – Nime Cloud – 2011-06-28T12:59:15.357

Nime, if this is the solution, please mark as answered. – music2myear – 2011-06-28T14:32:22.313

It seems Excel 2003 (with Compatibility Pack) relies on file extension instead of file content. xls for Excel 2003, xlxs for 2007+ – Nime Cloud – 2011-06-29T06:43:57.537

Nime, this is common in Windows. Many programs do not open supported file if it does not have the right extension, – Juhele – 2011-06-29T07:44:49.957

If you are running an older version of Office then you'll need to download the Compatibility Pack from Microsoft.

Matthew Steeples

Posted 2011-06-28T10:38:58.523

Reputation: 2 130