Why use xlsb format

There is no macro-free binary file format. The Macro Mover add-in can detect macros in closed workbooks. The personal macro file, if present, is opened as a hidden workbook every time you start Excel. The personal workbook is saved by default in binary format Personal.

Unfortunately, VBA code doesn't properly clean-up after itself, so lots of junk gets left behind in performance caches during editing of VBA projects.

Not only does this increase the file size, but it may lead to odd behaviour of your program at runtime or slow loading. Read more here. Certain Open Specifications documents are intended for use in conjunction with publicly available standards specifications and network programming art and, as such, assume that the reader either is familiar with the aforementioned material or has immediate access to it.

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Contents Exit focus mode. Is this page helpful? Yes No. Any additional feedback? Skip Submit. I recommend using it when you present your final results in the following cases:. That could be the case if somebody wants to check your results on an iPad or a similar device.

But: In many cases it would be professional and nice to also send at least parts of your Excel file. That way, your recipient could at least take a look at the calculation process.

XLAM is the file extension for Excel add-ins. They can contain VBA macros, worksheets as well as forms, images and individual ribbons. If you double click on such file, it will open in Excel and you can use the funcationality of the add-in. As the XLAM file type is not really an alternative for all the other file extensions above, we skip the advantages and disadvantages.

So if we put all the advantages, disadvantages and facts from above together, we come to the following comparison:. You just have to answer two questions: Do you need VBA macros and do you work with a large amount of data?

Wonderful information on Excel. You pulled a lot on information together in a succinct presentation. Thanks Much!!! Hi Foster, Thanks for the reply. Best regards, Henrik. Thanks for the feedback, Mark. Does this always happen to you working in the xlsb file format? Thanks for the feedback. Please provide any proof for your accusations. What do you mean with misleading? And concerning the second part: What is wrong about it? Please try it yourself: Save an Excel file as.

The XLSB file format does not in any way increase the probability of crashing. However, if the file does crash it may be harder to recover. Therefore, in a critical situation you have definitely a better chance of reading a text file than a binary file. Microsoft introduced an open file format that allowed these other programs to open as well as edit these files more easily than before. For this reason be aware when working with the binary Excel format when working with collegues who might want to use alternative programs to collaborate with you.

It is worth reaching out to the XLSB file format whenever you file starts running slow or uses an enormous amount of space.