.ODS File Extension
OpenDocument Spreadsheet
Developer | OASIS |
Popularity |
3.6 | 244 Votes |
Category | Spreadsheet Files |
Format | Zip |
What is an ODS file?
An ODS file is a spreadsheet created by Calc, a spreadsheet program included with the LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice suites. It stores data in cells organized into rows and columns, and it may also contain charts, mathematical functions, and formatting. ODS files are similar to .XLSX files.
LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice are free open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office. Calc is included with LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice and the equivalent to Microsoft Excel.
The software allows users to create spreadsheets to save project trackers, budgets, to-do lists, and other spreadsheet types. Calc saves users' spreadsheets as ODS files by default. To create an ODS file in Calc, select File → New → Spreadsheet, then select File → Save As....
ODS files are formatted using the OASIS OpenDocument XML-based standard, which The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) maintains. LibreOffice, OpenOffice, and other variants, all of which save spreadsheets as ODS files, use this standard.
How to open an ODS file
You can open an ODS file with various spreadsheet applications, including: OpenOffice Calc (cross-platform), Microsoft Excel (cross-platform), LibreOffice (cross-platform), and Google Sheets (Web, iOS, Android, Chrome OS).
You can also convert your ODS file to an XLSX file in all those programs. Note that you may lose some formatting when you open an ODS file in a program other than OpenOffice or LibreOffice or convert an ODS file to another spreadsheet format.
How to convert an ODS file
Several spreadsheet applications, including OpenOffice Calc and Microsoft Excel, can convert ODS files to other formats.
For example, OpenOffice Calc can convert ODS files to many file types, including the following formats:
- .OTS - OpenDocument Spreadsheet Template
- .XLS - Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy)
- .XLT - Microsoft Excel Template (Legacy)
- .CSV - Comma-Separated Values
- .DIF - Data Interchange Format
- .PDF - Portable Document Format
- .UOS - Uniform Office Spreadsheet
- .PXL - Pocket Excel File
- .SXC - StarOffice Calc Spreadsheet
- .STC - StarOffice Calc Spreadsheet Template
Programs that open or reference ODS files
Outlook Express 5 Mailbox
Developer | Microsoft |
Popularity |
3.2 | 17 Votes |
Category | Data Files |
Format | N/A |
What is an ODS file?
An ODS file is a mailbox created by Microsoft Outlook Express 5. It contains email messages and mailbox settings. ODS files have names like Messages.ods.
Microsoft Outlook Express is a discontinued email and news client that was bundled with Internet Explorer versions 4 through 6. Version 5 of Outlook Express saves mailboxes as ODS files.
Outlook Express 5 also uses a file named Folders.ods, which contains an index of your mailboxes. If this file is deleted, Outlook Express 5 will automatically recreate it at startup.
NOTE: Other versions of Outlook Express use mailboxes saved as .DBX folders.
How to open an ODS file
Versions 4 and 5 of Microsoft Outlook Express are the only programs that can open ODS folders. Because these programs are discontinued, you likely will not be able to open your ODS files.