[Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Discuss the spreadsheet application
Post Reply
crgauth
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:37 am

[Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by crgauth »

I am running OO v2.4.1 on Windows XP. I work with a website that provides me with reports in excel format. They just upgraded their application and I can't open the files in OO anymore. Files appear to be XML formatted. Here are the first couple of lines from the file that I opened in an XML editor:
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
- <Workbook xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:ss="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
File inital comes out as .xls. I tried renaming to .xml to open in calc as XML, but still doesn't open correctly.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Last edited by Hagar Delest on Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: tagged the thread as Solved.
OOo 2.4.X on Ms Windows XP
User avatar
acknak
Moderator
Posts: 22756
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:25 am
Location: USA:NJ:E3

Re: Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by acknak »

That's most likely Office 2007's new XML format, which OOo cannot currently open. OOo 3, due next month, will have support for it.

I would politely complain to the web site if I were you: it's a very bad decision on their part to be using that new format--it's incompatible with everything except Office 2007. There are some ways to read it with older versions of MS Office, but it's a big hassle. It seems like a poor policy to require that all their users jump through hoops, or upgrade to Office 2007, to read their files.
AOO4/LO5 • Linux • Fedora 23
fst
Volunteer
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:31 pm

Re: Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by fst »

Hi,

you may try to open it with the webquery or the HTML filter from the File Open Dialog.

Frank
Frank

If your question is answered, please go to your first post, select the Edit button, and add [Solved] to the beginning of the title.
User avatar
Hagar Delest
Moderator
Posts: 32628
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:07 pm
Location: France

Re: Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by Hagar Delest »

Some information in that thread (see links at the end of first post): MS Office 2007 file format (docx, xslx, pptx, ppsx).
LibreOffice 7.6.2.1 on Xubuntu 23.10 and 7.6.4.1 portable on Windows 10
Phil
Volunteer
Posts: 802
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2007 5:35 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by Phil »

If you like to stick to OpenOffice, you can install the public 3.0 Beta 2 version. It will install in parallel, not touching your OpenOffice 2.x installation (i.e. neither overwriting the installation nor interfering with the users settings).

I have tested it: importing the files seems to work quite well!
You should be able to save them in the ODF format and continue to work on them with your 2.x version.

Regards, phil
OOo 3.0.1 & DEV-3.1 • WinXP pro 32-bit + SP3 + current patches
Looking for OpenOffice-related information? Try the search engine on OpenOfficeNinja - a great tool!
My favorite extension: Alt. Find & Replace for Writer. All you need and much more...
OOo 2.4.X on Ms Windows XP
crgauth
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:37 am

Re: Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by crgauth »

Was able to get it to work using OO 3.0. Had to rename the file to .xml for it to be read in properly and then could edit from there.
Thanks
OOo 2.4.X on Ms Windows XP
Phil
Volunteer
Posts: 802
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2007 5:35 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by Phil »

You're welcome, I'm happy it works for you!

Thanks for adding "[Solved]" at the beginning of your first post title (by using the edit button).
Also, you could change the title thread to e.g. "Can't Open Excel 2007 .xlsx File in Calc", making it easier to find for other users having the same question.

Regards, phil
OOo 3.0.1 & DEV-3.1 • WinXP pro 32-bit + SP3 + current patches
Looking for OpenOffice-related information? Try the search engine on OpenOfficeNinja - a great tool!
My favorite extension: Alt. Find & Replace for Writer. All you need and much more...
OOo 2.4.X on Ms Windows XP
Kalinat
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:51 am

Re: [Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by Kalinat »

I had a similar problem with a website that upgraded. I tried changing the file name, but that did not work. Finally I found a solution:

Saved the file to my computer.
Right clicked on the file and selected "Open With" then "Microsoft Open XML converter".
I saved as an XLSM file.
After saving, if you doubleclick on this file, it will open as a "read-only", BUT if you right-click and "open with Scal.exe" you will be able to edit.

Hope this helps someone!! I spent over 2 hours on this problem, including phone time with that site's support who were of no help at all!
OOo 2.3.X on MS Windows Vista
DMisterE
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:48 am

Re: [Not Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by DMisterE »

I still can not open XLSM files no matter what. The problem is that I can not even open them on another machine's Excel for Office 2000 (with the MS compatibly crap). This format is poison, which it went away. :crazy: Now I have to find an Office 2007 machine to see if I can resave it in something OO 3.1 can read. :knock:
Say No to Monopolies
OpenOffice 3.1 on Windows XP / OpenOffice 3.1 on Ubuntu 8.04
mriosv
Volunteer
Posts: 651
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:12 am
Location: Galiza (España)

Re: [Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by mriosv »

Do you try with development version OOo 3.2
http://download.openoffice.org/next/other.html#dev1
LibreOffice 3.5.4 AOo-3.4 on Win 7 Ultimate
User avatar
TheGurkha
Volunteer
Posts: 6482
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:13 pm
Location: North Wales, UK.

Re: [Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by TheGurkha »

Perhaps Zamzar may be able to do something?
Ubuntu 14.10 Utopic Unicorn, LibreOffice Version: 4.3.3.2
Gurkha Welfare Trust
onkeltem
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:04 pm

Re: [Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by onkeltem »

Hi all.

I've just installed Openoffice 3.2.0 dev build 9474 and am trying to open an Excel file in it. FAILED. It still wants to import file like it was a general text file.

The Excel file starts with:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  <Workbook 
      xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet"
      xmlns:xalan="http://xml.apache.org/xalan"
      xmlns:t1="http://beeline.ru/ccbo/dto"
      xmlns:ns1="http://beeline.ru/ccbo/dto"
      xmlns:ns0="http://beeline.ru/ccbo/datamodel"
      xmlns:msxsl="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xslt"
      xmlns:math="xalan://java.lang.Math"
      xmlns:fn="http://www.w3.org/2005/02/xpath-functions"
      xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel"
      xmlns:ss="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet"
      xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
      xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
            <DocumentProperties xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office">...
Such files are created by my phone company. Any ideas?

UPD. FIXED. Damned :) The Excel file had extension ".XLS". After renaming it to ".XLSM", the file now opens in OO 3.2!
OpenOffice 3.0.1 on Ubuntu 9.04
Lenore
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:18 pm

Re: [Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by Lenore »

After renaming it to ".XLSM", the file now opens in OO 3.2!
Thank you, thank you!! :bravo: So simple, and absolutely necessary. Please add this to the Calc documentation. (And Excel still opens the .XLSM file.)

But I'm going to keep my OpenOffice files separated from my MSOffice versions until I test OO some more. I really want to ditch Microsoft whereever possible, but this experience so far with OO leaves me less than confident.
OpenOffice 3.1.1 on Windows XP 2002 SP3
onkeltem
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:04 pm

Re: [Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by onkeltem »

SPAM/HAM? :)
OpenOffice 3.0.1 on Ubuntu 9.04
User avatar
TheGurkha
Volunteer
Posts: 6482
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:13 pm
Location: North Wales, UK.

Re: [Solved] Can't Open Excel File in Calc

Post by TheGurkha »

onkeltem wrote:SPAM/HAM? :)
True - it'll be gone directly...
Ubuntu 14.10 Utopic Unicorn, LibreOffice Version: 4.3.3.2
Gurkha Welfare Trust
Post Reply