Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
(OP)
Every so often I stumble across Excel issues that I investigated years before (this occurs in my work life too) and have forgotten.
So I just realized that Excel 2007 offers the xlsm and the xlsb formats. My copy of Walkenbach's book for 2007 barely even mentions the xlsb format. But he does discuss that earlier versions of Excel used the binary format; presumably, the xlsb is pretty much an extension of the earlier type.
I have some files that are packed with goodies. In xlsm format they are around 5-6 MB. In xlsb they are a bit more than half of that.
These files are not used by anyone other than myself, and are used only with Excel. There are no Ribbon modifications in them.
Should I have any concerns about using the xlsb format so that the files are smaller and load/save faster? I have browsed around on the web and gleaned what's out there for information. There hasn't been much discussion at all here in the Eng-Tips forum.
(Funny thing is, I have some binary copies of a couple of these files and I remember using them several years ago. For the life of me, I don't remember or know why I stopped using that format, or if I was even aware that I stopped at the time.)
So I just realized that Excel 2007 offers the xlsm and the xlsb formats. My copy of Walkenbach's book for 2007 barely even mentions the xlsb format. But he does discuss that earlier versions of Excel used the binary format; presumably, the xlsb is pretty much an extension of the earlier type.
I have some files that are packed with goodies. In xlsm format they are around 5-6 MB. In xlsb they are a bit more than half of that.
These files are not used by anyone other than myself, and are used only with Excel. There are no Ribbon modifications in them.
Should I have any concerns about using the xlsb format so that the files are smaller and load/save faster? I have browsed around on the web and gleaned what's out there for information. There hasn't been much discussion at all here in the Eng-Tips forum.
(Funny thing is, I have some binary copies of a couple of these files and I remember using them several years ago. For the life of me, I don't remember or know why I stopped using that format, or if I was even aware that I stopped at the time.)
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
Not sure what it has, or doesn't have, but I would assume that Microsoft will be more than happy to complain about unsupported features if you try to save to .XLSB format with something that the format doesn't support. Note that Tek-Tips.com has a Microsoft Office forum, wherein .XLSB format is at least mentioned in passing: http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1585535
TTFN
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RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
I always use xlsb (or xlsx if there are no macros) and I have never had any problems with it. I don't know why everybody else uses xlsm. I don't see any advantages with it, unless you are going to access information from the file from outside Excel.
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
It's definitely way more dense than Excel 97-2003 format, but for my stuff, there doesn't appear a major difference between XLSB and XLSX, although XLSB is about 20% denser.
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
homework forum: //www.engineering.com/AskForum/aff/32.aspx
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
homework forum: //www.engineering.com/AskForum/aff/32.aspx
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
Both xlsb and xlsm are selected. I don't know if this is the default, but it's easy to change, and it does work, I just checked it.
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
The search "app" on the other hand is near useless.
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
cheers
dynatune4xl
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
http://blog.datasafexl.com/excel-articles/advantag...
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
The only thing I would contest is that they say "we highly recommend this (xlsb format) for very large and complex files", whereas I recommend it for all files unless:
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
Under what circumstances might one have "a definite need for xlsm"?
Thanks.
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?
I presume (but don't know) that they can be read by Open Office, and there are (I presume) other programs that will read them without needing Excel.
But I always use xlsb.
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Excel: xlsm versus xlsb ?