Microsoft Excel is one of the most popular spreadsheet programs in the original Microsoft Office suite of tools. The file format is highly compatible and you can open them using a variety of different methods.
Whether you’re away from your desk or want to open an Excel on your phone, you don’t always have to use Microsoft to read Excel files. In this article, we’ll discuss all the different ways to open an Excel file read-only.
You Can Use Google Chrome’s Free Extension
If you’re using Google Chrome, there’s a free extension called Office Viewer that will let you read Excel files without having to install Microsoft Office.
The extension is available on the Chrome Web Store and once it’s installed, you can open any Excel file by clicking on the “Open with Office Viewer” button.
You Can Use an Online App
There are also a number of online apps that will let you read Excel files without having to install anything on your computer. One popular app is Zamzar. You can use this app to convert different types of files into other formats.
To use Zamzar, simply upload the Excel file you want to read and select “Excel (.xls)” from the list of output formats. Zamzar will then convert the file and give you a link to download it.
You Can Use an iPhone or iPad App
If you have an iPhone or iPad, there are a number of apps that will let you read Excel files. One popular app is GoodReader. You can use this app to read PDFs, Word documents, and other types of files.
To use GoodReader, simply install the app on your device and open the Excel file you want to read. So, the app will automatically convert the file into a readable format.
You Can Read Excel File in Python
If you’re familiar with programming, you can also read Excel files in Python. The code is relatively simple and can be used to read both .xls and .xlsx files.
For more information on how to read write excel file C#, check out the official Python documentation or search for a tutorial online.
You Can Use Google Sheets
If you don’t have Microsoft Office or an iPhone/iPad, you can also use Google Sheets to read Excel files. Google Sheets is a free online spreadsheet program that is part of the Google Drive suite of tools.
To use Google Sheets, simply create a new sheet and import the Excel file you want to read. The file will be converted into a readable format and you can edit it directly in Google Sheets.
You Can Use WPS Office
WPS Office is a free office suite that can be used to read and edit Excel files. The software is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux and can be downloaded from the WPS website.
To use WPS Office, simply install the software on your computer and open the Excel file you want to read. As a result, the file will be converted into a readable format and you can edit it directly in WPS Office.
Learn More About How to Read Excel File
As you can see, it’s not difficult to read Excel files on different platforms. Following these tips can make it convenient to open any Excel file when you can’t use Microsoft Office.
Do you want to learn more about Excel files? If so, check out our blog for more helpful articles.
