A staggering 750 million — that’s how many people still use Microsoft Excel today.
Unless you use macOS Numbers, it’s very likely that you’re one of these millions of users.
MS Excel, by the way, is more than just a spreadsheet program — artists use it to create their masterpieces too! A perfect example is Tatsuo Horiuchi, who uses this program to create stunning digital art.
In any case, MS Excel is the spreadsheet program that gave birth to the XLS file extension name. That makes it a document format proprietary to Microsoft Excel.
The question now is, what exactly does “XLS” stand for? Is it the default format for all Excel files? Which situations does it make sense to convert .xls files?
Stick around and read on as we’ll give you all the answers you’re looking for in this post!
Decoding an XLS File
An XLS file is a file that you create using Microsoft Excel. In fact, the “XL” in the acronym XLS is an initialism of the word “Excel”. The S there stands for “Spreadsheet”.
XLS, however, has evolved into “XLSX” — the extension used by more recent versions of Microsoft Excel. XLS is the extension used by Excel 2003 (and earlier), while XLSX is for Excel 2007 and later.
Regardless of the version though, all files you save using Excel will have an “XLS” in their file extension. By default, files saved on Excel 2003 and earlier will have the .xls extension.
Digging a Little Deeper Into Excel
MS Excel files are spreadsheets often used to create tabulated data, usually numbers. Not only can they store financial data — they have the ability to automate calculations too! This is why many people use them to construct mathematical models.
It’s also because of this that many employers prefer talents who have Excel skills. In fact, studies found that up to 80% of online recruiters require applicants to have such skills! So, if you want to up your employment game, it’s best to polish your Excel prowess.
In any case, MS Excel being a spreadsheet app means it can create grids of text and numbers. It can formulate content into specific calculations, from addition to division. It can also gather and then store data from external sources.
At the very least, you can create a .xls file to track your personal finances or household budget. You can also use it as a simple way to organize data, such as timelines or schedules.
The Difference Between XLS and XLSX File Extensions
Aside from their “age”, XLS and XLSX also differ from each other in terms of the file format they use. XLS uses a proprietary binary format known as “Binary Interchange File Format” (BIFF). Whereas XLSX uses the format called “Open XML”, hence the last X in the acronym.
When (And Why) Should You Convert XLS to XLSX?
Just as you can convert Pages, as well as PDF and DOC files to DOCX, you can do the same with XLS to XLSX. The big question is, when and why exactly should you do that?
Here are a few instances — and reasons — to convert files with a .xls extension into .xlsx.
To Save Excel Files In a Compressed Format
By switching from XLS to XLSX, the file compression process becomes automated. Since your files get automatically compressed, you get to save hard drive space.
To Make Data Recovery Somewhat Easier
In 2018, almost two-thirds of surveyed consumers experienced the pain of data loss. A lot of these were due to accidental deletions, but many also resulted from data corruption.
That said, one reason you’d want to convert your XLS files into XLSX is for easier data recovery. With XLS, you won’t be able to view anything once you get that message about a workbook having corrupted data. XLSX, on the other hand, still lets you view undamaged sections of the file.
That’s because XML saves file information in separate containers. So, even if one container gets damaged, it won’t automatically damage the rest of the file.
Keep Malicious Macros at Bay
As awesome as MS Office is, it has become one of the most common malware delivery methods. In fact, in August 2018, MS Office docs were the leading malware loader throughout the world. They accounted for 45% of all analyzed malware delivery mechanisms.
Older versions of MS Office docs are the powerhouse of such malware loaders. That’s because .doc and .xls files can run macros, whereas .docx and .xlsx can’t.
Macros are scripts that can automate tasks, so they can be quite useful. Cybercriminals, however, can easily exploit them to deliver malware and launch attacks.
So, if you want to better protect your files — especially if you’ll send them online — it’s best to go with .xlsx.
Converting XLS to Other File Types
Aside from .xlsx, you can also convert .xls files into PDF, CSV, and many other file formats.
It’s a good idea to convert XLS into PDF to make your files easier to share across the web. PDF, which stands for Portable Document Format, is compatible with all devices. Meaning, regardless of the device used to open the file, the PDF version will look just like the XLS one.
In addition, PDF is among the most common online file format — there are over 2.2 billion PDF files on the public web alone. The popular cloud storage service, Dropbox, also houses another 20 billion.
You may also want to convert .xls files into .csv files if you need to import and export large amounts of data. CSV, which stands for “Comma-Separated Values”, will render the XLS file into plain text. This removes the format, and instead, separates the values by commas.
Get Started on Converting Excel Files Now
There you have it, your ultimate guide on what an XLS file is, and when it’s best to convert such a file. Now that you know about .xls alternatives, it’s best to make the switch, whether to XLSX or PDF. The sooner you do, the more space you’ll have in your hard disk drive, and the safer you will be from malicious macros.
Ready to convert your XLS files to smaller, safer .xlsx versions? Our secure online XLS to XLSX file converter can make things easier for you!