Differences between using a workbook in Excel 2016 Online and in Excel Online File formats that are supported in Excel Online Excel workbook files (.xlsx) Excel 97-2003 workbook files (.xls). Note: When you open this file format, Excel Online will convert it to a newer.xlsx file. You can always download the original by going to File > Info > Previous versions. Excel binary workbook file (.xlsb) OpenDocument Spreadsheet file (.ods) Excel macro-enabled workbook (.xlsm) A workbook in this format can be opened but macros do not run in a Workbooks in other formats, such as.csv format, are generally not supported in Excel Online. For more information about Excel file formats, see Save a workbook in another file format. NOTE: There are limits to the size of files you can view in SharePoint Online and the Power BI service. Read more about file size limits for workbooks in SharePoint Online. Features that are supported for viewing in Excel Online When you view or print a workbook in a browser window, some features might work differently, as summarized in the following table. Calculations Cells Charts and tables, including PivotChart reports and PivotTable reports Calculations and calculation settings, including automatic, manual, and iterative calculation settings for ranges or worksheets work in a browser window similar to how they do in Excel. Cells, including cell values, merged cells, and cell content overview, are displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel. In general, charts, tables, PivotChart reports, and PivotTable reports are displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel. Exceptions include Charts that are part of a group of charts Charts that rely on external references
Charts that use certain kinds of data sources that are not supported for workbooks viewed in a browser window If you are using Excel Services or Excel Web App on premises (not in the cloud), the ability to display certain content in a browser window depends on whether Excel Services or Excel Web App is used to display a workbook. For more information, see Comparing Excel Services in SharePoint to Excel Web App. Data connections Dates External references Fields list for a PivotChart report or a PivotTable report Filters, slicers, and timeline controls Depending on how your environment is configured, some kinds of data connections are supported for workbooks displayed in a browser window, which enables you to refresh data. For more information, see Refreshing data in a workbook in a Dates are displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel. The last known value for an external reference is displayed in a External references must be updated using Excel. In general, the Fields List for a PivotChart report or a PivotTable report works in a browser window similar to how it works in Excel. This means that people can use the Fields List to explore information and change the data that is displayed in a PivotChart report or PivotTable report. Filters and slicers generally work in a browser window similar to how they work in Excel. In general, timeline controls work in a browser window similar to how they work in Excel. If you are using Excel Services or Excel Web App on premises (not in the cloud), the ability to display certain content in a browser window depends on whether Excel Services or Excel Web App is used to display a workbook. For more information, see Comparing Excel Services in SharePoint toexcel Web App. Formatting Cell and cell-range formatting and number formats display in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel.
Functions Line borders Named items Most Excel functions work in a browser window as they do in Excel. Exceptions are listed in the Workbook functions section of this article. Most, but not all, line borders are displayed in a browser window as they are displayed in Excel. Line colors, continuous- and double-line styles, solid and dashed lines, and lines using thin, medium, and thick line weights are supported. Named items, such as ranges, tables, charts, PivotChart reports, PivotTable reports, slicers, and timeline controls are generally displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel. If you are using Excel Services or Excel Web App on premises (not in the cloud), the ability to display certain content in a browser window depends on whether Excel Services or Excel Web App is used to display a workbook. For more information, see Comparing Excel Services in SharePoint toexcel Web App. Sparklines Tables Sparklines display in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel. Excel tables, including data, column headers, and total rows are displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel. Features that can differ between the browser and the desktop Some features work differently in a browser window than they do in Excel. In addition, some workbook features can prevent a workbook from being viewed in a TIP: If you cannot view a workbook in a browser window because it contains unsupported features, try opening the workbook in Excel on the desktop. Controls Data connections Controls, such as ActiveX controls and form toolbar controls, prevent a workbook from being viewed in a Depending on how your environment is configured, some kinds of data connections can prevent a workbook from being displayed in a For more information, see Refreshing data in a workbook in a
Data validation Digital signatures Fonts Functions Legacy macro languages Save Security and privacy Workbooks that use data validation can be edited in a browser window, but data validation cannot be set up in the browser. Workbooks that use visible or invisible digital signatures cannot be viewed in a Fonts are usually displayed using the same style and size in a browser as they are displayed in Excel. If a workbook uses a specific font that is not available on your device, then another font might be substituted when a workbook is displayed in a Some kinds of functions can behave differently in a browser window than they do in Excel. For more information, see the Functions section later in this article. Workbooks that contain legacy macro features, such as Microsoft Excel 4.0 Macro Functions and Microsoft 5.0 dialog sheets cannot be displayed in a When you or other people edit a workbook in a browser window, changes are saved automatically. Workbooks that have Information Rights Management (IRM) settings applied at the workbook level cannot be viewed in a If your organization is using Excel Web App (on premises) or Excel Online (in the cloud) to display workbooks, then workbooks that are saved in IRM-protected document libraries are supported and can be displayed in a Workbooks that are sent as IRM-protected attachments in Outlook Web App are also supported and can be displayed in a However, if your organization is using Excel Services in SharePoint Server (on premises) to display workbooks, workbooks in IRM-protected libraries are not supported, and must be opened in Excel. IRM cannot be applied in the browser. Undo and Redo When a workbook is edited by more than one person at a time, the Undo and Redo commands are not available in a browser window as soon as another user makes a change.
Worksheet protection or workbook protection Workbooks that are protected (encrypted with password protection) cannot be viewed in a Protected worksheets (not entire workbooks) can be viewed in a browser window in Excel Online. In an on-premises environment where you're using Excel Services or Excel Web App, protected worksheets cannot be viewed in a To remove protection, open the workbook in the Excel on the desktop. XML XML maps, XML embedded smart tags, and XML expansion packs prevent a workbook from being viewed in a browser window. Functions in Excel and in Excel Online Some workbook functions behave differently in a browser window than they do in Excel. The following table summarizes how some functions work in Excel and in a workbook viewed in a This function Works like this in Excel Works like this in Excel Online CHAR HYPERLINK INFO NOW RAND, RANDBETWEEN Returns a character specified by a number. For non-printing characters, returns a block character. Returns an active link that you can click and follow Returns the path of the current directory or folder on the computer. Returns the date and time on your computer Returns a random number each time it is used Returns a character specified by a number. For non-printing characters, returns blank values. Depending on the Workbook Interactivity and Workbook Navigation settings that are specified for a workbook, the HYPERLINK function can return an active link or an inactive link text string. Returns a #VALUE! error. Returns the date and time on the server Returns a random number each time it is used
This function Works like this in Excel Works like this in Excel Online RTD (real-time data) TODAY Returns real-time data from a program that supports COM automation. Returns the date on your computer If values that have been returned by an RTD function are stored in a workbook, those values are displayed. If no values are stored in the workbook, a #N/A error is returned. Returns the date on the server