Tips to open XLS file
Can't open the XLS file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open XLS files as well as a list of programs that support XLS files.
XLS file extension
The XLS file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the XLS files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the XLS file on each system platform.
What is XLS file?
The .XLS file is a spreadsheet. It is the Microsoft Excel format and it is the most popular type of spreadsheet, also known colloquially as "excels". Sheets are saved in the form of a workbook that connects several sheets. The data is organized in tabular form and can be processed with formulas. To develop formulas, knowledge of the structure of their operation and addressing the appropriate fields is required, but most things can be "clicked". This enables the use of mass computing and data processing.
How to open XLS file?
An often recurring problem with Excel Spreadsheet is that XLS is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that XLS files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the XLS file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install Microsoft Excel
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Microsoft Excel is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing Microsoft Excel into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open XLS files.
Programs to open XLS file
Remember to download programs supporting XLS files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Excel with XLS files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the XLS file to open in the Microsoft Excel application, but you can set it manually. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Microsoft Excel application as the default for handling the XLS file.
Step 3. Update Microsoft Excel to the latest version
The fault may also lie with the Microsoft Excel program, it is possible that Excel Spreadsheet requires a newer version of the program. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Microsoft Corporation website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the XLS file
The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the XLS file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our XLS file. However, remember that not every infected XLS file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of XLS file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged XLS files. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Microsoft, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted file XLS except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the XLS file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file XLS to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the XLS file for a certain period of time. If nothing helps, please reset the device.
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