.XLSB File Extension
File TypeMicrosoft Excel Binary Spreadsheet
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Popularity |
|
| Category | Spreadsheet Files |
| Format | Binary |
What is an XLSB file?
An XLSB file is a spreadsheet workbook created by Microsoft Excel, a program used to create and edit spreadsheets. It contains one or more spreadsheets with cells arranged by a grid of rows and columns, as well as charts, macros, and formatting. XLSB files are saved in a binary format.
XLSB files differ from standard Open XML format (.XLSX) spreadsheets since they store the spreadsheet using a binary format (BIFF12). You will most likely see and use the XLSX file more often because it is compressed to save space and is easier to share with other users. XLSB files are not compressed, making them larger in size than XLSX files. However, XLSB files may perform more efficiently within Excel because they are saved in the larger binary format.
To create an XLSB file with Excel, select , then select "Excel Binary Workbook (*.xlsb)" from the file type dropdown menu. Depending on the operating system you are using, Excel saves XLSB files in the following locations by default :
Windows Vista, 7, & 10:
C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart
Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart
macOS:
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Roaming/Excel/
How do I open an XLSB file?
You can open XLSB files with Microsoft Excel in Windows and macOS. You can also open XLSB files with OpenOffice Calc (multiplatform).
However, Excel is the best option for opening XLSB files because it fully supports the formatting of Excel spreadsheets, which may include graphs and the spacing of data fields. To open an XLSB file with Excel, select , then choose the XLSB file you would like to open.