File Format | Extensions | Note | Created with |
BIFF2 | .xls | Binary format used by MS Excel 2.x | MS Excel 3.0a German |
BIFF3 | .xls | Binary format used by MS Excel 3.0 | MS Excel 3.0a German |
BIFF4 | .xls | Binary format for worksheets used by MS Excel 4.0 | MS Excel 4.0 German |
BIFF4W | .xlw | Binary format for workbooks used by MS Excel 4.0 | MS Excel 4.0 German |
BIFF5 | .xls | Binary format used by MS Excel 5.0 and 95 | MS Excel 95 (MS Excel 7.0) |
BIFF8(11) | .xls | Binary format used by MS Excel 97, 2000, XP, and 2003 | MS Excel 2003 (MS Excel 11.0) |
BIFF12(11) | .xlsb | Binary format written by the XML plugin of MS Excel 2003 | MS Excel 2003 (MS Excel 11.0) |
XML(11) | .xlsx, .xlsm | XML format written by the XML plugin of MS Excel 2003 | MS Excel 2003 (MS Excel 11.0) |
BIFF8(12) | .xls | BIFF8 binary format written by MS Excel 2007 | MS Excel 2007 (MS Excel 12.0) |
BIFF12(12) | .xlsb | Binary format used by MS Excel 2007 | MS Excel 2007 (MS Excel 12.0) |
XML(12) | .xlsx, .xlsm | XML format used by MS Excel 2007 | MS Excel 2007 (MS Excel 12.0) |
Cell Contents |
These documents contain basic cell contents (numbers, texts, error codes, formulas). |
BIFF2 |
BIFF3 |
BIFF4 |
n/a |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain cells with data validation settings. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
Cell Formatting |
These documents contain formatted cells and cell styles. |
BIFF2 |
BIFF3 |
n/a |
BIFF4W |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain all available built-in number formats. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain cells with conditional formatting. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
Formulas, Functions, Defined Names |
These documents contain formulas (cell formulas, array formulas, shared formulas, table operations, functions). |
BIFF2 |
BIFF3 |
n/a |
BIFF4W |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
ODS |
|
These documents contain defined names (local and global names, built-in names). |
|
|
n/a |
|
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain tests for specific sheet functions. |
- CONVERT_ADD |
|
BIFF8(11) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
External Links, Hyperlinks |
The target documents for external links and hyperlinks: targets.zip (contains a _README.TXT file) |
|
These documents contain formula links to external documents. |
BIFF2 |
BIFF3 |
n/a |
BIFF4W |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain hyperlinks. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
Document Settings |
These documents are write-protected with the password "Password". |
n/a |
BIFF3 |
BIFF4 |
BIFF4W |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
Sheet Types and Settings |
These documents contain different types of sheets (worksheets, chart sheets, macro sheets, ...). |
|
|
n/a |
BIFF4W |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
These documents contain page and print settings on different sheets. |
|
|
n/a |
|
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain view settings on different sheets. |
|
|
n/a |
|
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain protection settings on different sheets. |
|
|
|
|
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
Filters, scenarios |
These documents contain autofilters and advanced filters. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
|
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain scenarios (what-if analysis). |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
Pivot Tables |
The target documents for pivot tables with external data source: pivottargets.zip |
|
These documents contain pivot tables based on various source data. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain pivot tables with different layouts. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
|
These documents contain pivot tables with field grouping settings. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
Drawing Layer |
These documents contain various drawing objects. |
n/a |
BIFF3 |
n/a |
BIFF4W |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
BIFF12(11) |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
These documents contain cell notes (comments). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
These documents contain picture links and externally linked objects (OLE objects). |
n/a |
BIFF3 |
n/a |
BIFF4W |
BIFF5 |
|
|
|
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
These documents contain form controls embedded in sheets. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
BIFF5 |
|
|
|
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
These documents contain form controls with embedded bitmaps and mouse pointer settings. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
|
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
These documents contain legacy form controls (BIFF3/BIFF4 buttons are contained in drawing layer test documents). |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
|
|
BIFF8(12) |
BIFF12(12) |
XML(12) |
|
Chart Types |
These documents contain samples of different chart types. |
- Bar/column charts |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Area charts |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Line/stock charts |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Scatter/bubble charts |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Radar charts |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Pie/doughnut charts |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Surface charts |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
Chart Settings and Formatting |
These documents contain charts with various changed chart elements. |
- Data series, labels |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Axis formatting, gridlines |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Axis scaling settings |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Title, axis titles, legend |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Missing and hidden points |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- 3D view settings |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Styles and formatting |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Bitmap fill formatting |
n/a |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Object positioning |
|
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|
- Embedded drawing shapes |
BIFF5 |
BIFF8(11) |
n/a |
XML(11) |
BIFF8(12) |
n/a |
XML(12) |
|