Whether you’re looking at documents regarding business analysis, performance reporting, or financial management, you might come across a particular type of Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with the file extension XLSM rather than XLSX, as you’d usually see.
Since this type of Excel file has some programming code that can present a security risk, you usually need to go through some extra steps before enabling all content and working on the file.
Take a look at what you can do to open an XLSM file successfully and which precautions you should take before doing so.
Table of Contents
What is an XLSM File and What Can it do?
An XLSM file is a macro-enabled spreadsheet created by Microsoft Excel, a widely-used spreadsheet program included in the Microsoft Office suite. It contains worksheets of cells arranged by rows and columns as well as embedded macros programmed in the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) language.
You can save an XLSM file as either a static copy or as part of a workbook project. An XLSM file can be opened and edited in Excel just like any other workbook.
You can use the Save As command in Excel to save an XLSM file in one of several formats: binary (.bin), comma-separated values (.csv), delimited text (.txt), or XML. When you save an XLSM file in one of these formats, Excel saves all the data in the workbook as well as all the worksheet functions and macros that you defined.
What is an XLSM File Structure?
An Excel spreadsheet file is made up of a series of sheets, each of which contains one or more worksheets. Each sheet is represented by a file name with the .xls extension. When you open an Excel spreadsheet, the program looks for the file named “Sheet1” and displays its contents.
The.xls extension stands for Excellent Sheets, and it’s an indication that the file contains formatted data that can be edited with Microsoft Excel.
The first two characters in the filename identify the type of data: “.xls” means that it’s an Excel spreadsheet, while “mso” indicates that it’s a workbook (.wkb) file containing macros.
Each sheet in an Excel spreadsheet is represented by a file name with the .xls extension. For example, Sheet 1.
How Do I Open an XLSM file?
If you want to open an XLSM file in Excel, there are a few things you need to know. First, make sure that the file is in Excel’s default format. Second, use one of Excel’s Open methods: File > Open or the shortcut Ctrl+O. If the file doesn’t exist yet, Excel will create it for you. Finally, specify the location and name of the workbook where you want to save the file.
How Do I Convert an XLSM File
The best way to convert an XLSM file is to open it in one of the editors above and then save the open file to another format. For example, if the file is opened in Excel, it can be saved to XLSX, XLS, PDF, HTM, CSV, and other similar formats.
Another way to convert one is to use a free document file converter. One example is FileZigZag, which can save the file to many of the same formats supported by Excel, as well as ODS, XLT, TXT, XHTML, and some less common ones like OTS, VOR, STC, and UOS.
If you want to avoid downloading a converter and would like to save the file online to access it later, use the Google Sheets online spreadsheet tool. Doing this converts the file into a special format so that you can make changes to it.
Here’s how:
1. Upload it to your Google Drive account through New > File upload. Choose Folder upload instead if you need to upload an entire folder of them.
2. Right-click the XLSM file in Google Drive and select Open with > Google Sheets.
3. It will automatically convert to a format that lets you read and use the file with Google Sheets. Both the original file and the converted one now exist in your Google Drive account. The one that can be edited in Google Sheets is identified by a green icon with an off-centered white cross.
NOTE: You can also use Google Sheets to convert the file to a different format. With the file open there, go to File > Download to save it as an XLSX, ODS, PDF, HTML, CSV, or TSV file.
How Do I Save an XLSM File?
If you need to save a copy of an Excel workbook as an XLSM file, there are a few different ways you can do it. You can use the “Save As” feature in Excel 2016 or later to save the file as an XLSM file. Alternatively, you can use the Export function in Excel 2003 or earlier to save the workbook as an XLSX file.
If you have access to a recent version of Office 365, you can also use the “Save As” feature in Excel 2016 or later to save the workbook as a Microsoft Office Document (.docx) file.
What is an XLSM File Used for?
An Excel 2007 or later file type is an XML-based file format used for storing data. The main use of Excel files is to store data in a structured way so that it can be easily accessed and processed.
XLSM files are used to store data in a structured way. They can contain anything that can be stored in an Excel file, including sheets, worksheets, charts, and graphs. XLSM files are compatible with Excel 2007 or later.
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How to Create and Edit XLSM Files in Outlook
1. If you want to open an XLSM file in Outlook, you can do so by selecting File > Open and then locating and selecting the file. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+O (Windows) or Command+O (Mac OS).
2. Once the XLSM file is open in Outlook, you can edit it just as if it were a regular spreadsheet. To make changes to cell values, for example, select the cell with the cursor and press the Enter key.
3. To create a new row or column in an XLSM file, select the column header that you want to add a row or column to and then click on the down arrow next to that header. This will open up a menu from which you can choose Add Row or Column.
4. You can also insert data automatically by using macros.
What is an Excel file format?
Excel files are Microsoft Office file formats that store data in a tabular format. The most common use for Excel files is to create and manage spreadsheet data. Excel files can also be used to store other types of data, such as text or images. Each column in an Excel file represents a different type of data. For example, the first column in an Excel file might represent the name of the person who created the file, while the last column might represent the date the file was created.
What is an XLSM File Extension?
An Excel spreadsheet file extension is .xlsm. This file format is used for data storage in Microsoft Excel. When you open an xlsm file, Excel displays it as a set of sheets. You can work with each sheet in isolation or combine them into a single workbook.
What is the Difference Between an XLS and XLSM File Formats?
An Excel spreadsheet file format is a file format used to store data in Microsoft Excel. XLS files use the Comma Separated Values (CSV) format, while XLSM files use the Microsoft Excel Macro-Enabled Spreadsheet (.XLM) format. The main difference between the two formats is that XLSM files can store macros, which makes them more powerful and customizable than XLS files.
Bottom Line
In conclusion,an XLSM file is a Microsoft Excel workbook that can be opened and edited in much the same way as a typical workbook. However, XLSM files are designed specifically for data analysis and represent a powerful way to organize complex data in a simple, easy-to-use format. With the right tools and training, users can quickly extract key insights from their data and make better decisions.
FAQs
Excel supports the variety of file types that you may use for different purpose. WPS supports the following excel file type: xlsm, xltm, xlsb, ets, et, ett, xls, xlsx, xlt, xltx, csv. Excel helps you open all the file types and even convert them to other file types
You create a macro in Excel by running the macro recorder or by using the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor.
Solution. Click on File -> Options – > Trust Center -> Trust Center Settings… -> Macro Settings -> Enable all macros.
An XLSM file is a macro-enabled spreadsheet created by Microsoft Excel, a widely-used spreadsheet program included in the Microsoft Office suite.
xlsm” is basically the same as “. xlsx” and can be opened with Excel 2007 and above. The only difference is that “. xlsm” starts the macro
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