# How can I open this file??( computer help please) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 3, 2000, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507 "2000-10-03T18:09:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/1 "2000-10-03T18:09:09Z")
I have a file that I need to open and print out for work. The problem is that it’s an “XLS file”. I have no idea what program to use to open a file of this extension. I tried Works, but the letters and numbers are all messed up. Can anyone help me? ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/2 "2000-10-03T18:12:12Z")
It’s an MS Excel Worksheet. Use Excel 97 or Office 2000. Hope this helps. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/3 "2000-10-03T18:12:28Z")
it’s an MS Excel workbook. ---
**Author:** ![BornDodgy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@BornDodgy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BornDodgy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/4 "2000-10-03T18:12:30Z")
try wordpad… or an html editor if you have one.,… that might work too… ---
**Author:** ![cheezit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@cheezit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheezit)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/5 "2000-10-03T18:18:15Z")
I had the same problem once. I don’t have Excell. Somebody told me to right click the file and hit the shift button at the same time, then choose “open with”. That brings up a list that you can open it with. At least it worked for me. HTH ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/6 "2000-10-03T18:19:50Z")
Well, now I know what it is, but I dont have Excel or office 2000. hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![BornDodgy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@BornDodgy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BornDodgy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/7 "2000-10-03T18:20:03Z")
Me = asshole who just mixed up xls and xms… though she s been in computing class for 3 years… yuck redeem myself! sniffl loons ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/8 "2000-10-03T18:22:32Z")
I wondered what crack you were smoking Dodgy. Didn’t want to say anything tho’ since I had it right, right up there at the top. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Derfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lord\_Derfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Derfel)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/9 "2000-10-03T18:24:49Z")
You can go to [http://www.microsoft.com](http://www.microsoft.com) and download a free Excel viewer. You won’t be able to edit or make changes, but at least you’ll be able to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/10 "2000-10-03T18:28:46Z")
If you have MS Works, a popular mini-suite bundled with many off-the-shelf computers, you can open up any Microsoft office format (.doc,.xls, Word, etc.) files. You should launch Works, then select Workbook, or Spreadsheet, depending on the version of Works you have. Then select and open the file. That should do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-open-this-file-computer-help-please/35507/11 "2000-10-03T18:30:45Z")
Lord Derful, That worked. Thanks everyone. Hmmm. 15 minutes from posting to getting the reply I needed. Thanks a lot!