How to Save or Open ODS File in Excel Online?

author Written By Deep Sikha
author Approved By Sonika Rawat
Reading Time 6 minutes
Updated on 16th September 2024

Many times, users want to Save or Open an ODS file in Excel file format. This task seems tedious, but is very easy. For this purpose, you just need to open the ODS spreadsheet in Excel format to view it. Want to know how? Go through this blog below. It describes the best solutions and an OpenOffice Calc Recovery Tool for quick retrieval of ODS data in Excel. But before that, let us see what the two file formats are.

ODS vs. Excel - Differences

ODS Format Excel Format
The ODS (Open document spreadsheet) file type is associated with the Apache OpenOffice/StarOffice spreadsheet programs. The Excel (.xls) file type is associated with Microsoft Excel.
ODS provides more advanced calculating and formatting options. Excel also has various formulas for calculation and formatting features.
It is used to create timetables, track projects and budgets, keep data organized, etc. Excel sheets are mainly used by businesses to create reports, charts, graphs, and more.

Why Save or Open ODS File in Excel?

The ODS file format is quite similar to Excel, but some reasons demand to open the ODS files into Excel. These are as follows:

  • It takes time for large calculations in ODS, whereas Excel performs quick operations.
  • Excel files are easy to share across devices and can be accessed anywhere.
  • Also, Excel is easy to use for maintaining data reports, charts, budgets, etc.
  • Moreover, ODS files have more chances of human errors, which may lead to wrong results.

Therefore, it is the right choice to save ODS in Excel and streamline your work without worries.

Methods to Access ODS Files in Excel Online

You can convert an OpenOffice spreadsheet to an Excel by using the menu commands in Apache OpenOffice. Conversely, if you are using Microsoft Excel, an add-in for the Microsoft Office suite is available. It will give you the ability to open and convert ODS file types to XLS files. In addition, we will also discuss using a professional tool in the upcoming section for quick access to ODS files.

Method 1: Open the ODS File in Excel by Using MS Excel

  1. Open MS Excel and go to the File tab.
  2. Now, browse and select the ODS file that you want to open.
  3. You may receive a warning for opening an ODS file. Click OK.
  4. Next, again click the File tab and select the Save As option.
  5. Further, choose the (.xls) format from the drop-down menu and click Save.

Note: When trying to open an ODS file in Excel, it might not have the same file formatting as the original. This is caused due to the differences between applications that use the OpenDocument Format.

Method 2: Manually Open the ODS File by Using Google Drive

If you are not dealing with sensitive data then you can upload the ODS file to Google Drive. To open the files in .xls format, use the top menu to download the file as XLS or XLSX. This is an easy method to do conversion of files to Excel format with the help of Google.

Automated Tool to Open ODS Files in Excel

To overcome the shortcomings of the manual method, use the expert-recommended SysInfo CALC Recovery Tool. It allows you to save/open ODS files in Excel file format within seconds. Also, you can recover damaged or corrupt ODS files using this software. So, this tool is reliable, flexible, and convenient even if you are a non-technical user. Furthermore, it has some advantageous features, such as:

  • Provides an advanced preview option to show the data of added ODS files.
  • Recover images, Text, Content, hyperlinks, and other objects of the file.
  • It has no file size limitations and supports bulk recovery too.
  • This tool is compatible with Windows 11 and all earlier versions.
  • Moreover, it keeps the data structure intact and maintains folder hierarchy.

Steps to Recover ODS File and Save in Excel

  1. Launch the tool on your PC as an administrator.
  2. Browse and add the single/multiple ODS files to the software. Click Open > Next.
  3. Now, click OK and select the sheet from the combo box that you want to view.
  4. Additionally, press the Show Preview button to view the selected sheet contents. Click Next.
  5. Afterward, select the Save in Excel option, and if required, check the Save Media option.
  6. Subsequently, click the (...) icon to browse and specify the destination path.
  7. At last, press the Save button to initiate the process. Once done, click OK.

You can now find your ODS file in Excel format at your specified location.

Conclusion

You can Save/Open ODS files in Excel file format easily by following the above methods. If you are not able to do it manually, you can download the professional tool. It saves you time, is user-friendly, and keeps data secure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How can I open an ODS file in Excel?

Ans- You can do it using the manual methods. However, it may take time and is risky. Therefore, to open the ODS file in Excel swiftly, follow the steps given below:

  1. Launch the OpenOffice Calc Recovery Tool on your system.
  2. Next, in the open window add the ODS file that you want to open. Click Next.
  3. Now, choose the sheet that you want to view and hit Show Preview button. Click Next.
  4. Further, select Save in Excel and specify the destination path for your resultant file.
  5. At last, hit the Save button.