Internal format of an Excel spreadsheet

[papadba]

Does anyone have a link to a document that describes how an Excel spreadsheet in composed?

We have downloaded many data-delimited filesw and one of our users wants to have the downloaded file automagically stored on multiple sheets. The data is beiong generated on an IBM mainframe.

Our goal is to create a Very simple spreadsheet and embed whatever is needed to cause a new sheet. I expect there will be some control info at the start and end of the file as well as info for each field.

Once upon a time i coded in PCL for HP printing and while there were a lot of Escape Sequences, it was really not so difficult. Here's hoping something similar can be done to generate a data stream that will successfully load into Excel.

I understand that there is documentation that describes the internals of an Excel file, but so far, i've not been able to find a link to one. I'd really like to see a simple spreadsheet in "hex". I created a 2 row, 3 cell file and it is 3k - most of which is redundant.

 

[strongm]

The basic Excel file format document from Microsoft is a 6-700 page PDF ...

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc313118.aspx

and more specifically

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh657887(v=office.12).aspx,

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc313154(v=office.12).aspx

and

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc313133(v=office.12).aspx

 

[Andrzejek]

I assume you get a simple 'flat' text file from IBM mainframe.
Why not just write a simple macro in Excel to take that file and create whatever you want with it? Including multiple sheets.

Have fun.

---- Andy

 

[papadba]

Thank you for the links! I'll start some digging . . .

@Andy - Yup, currently we generate a Lot of data-delimnited text files for download or e-mail attachments. Recently we were asked if the mainframe file could already have "sheet control" as well as the delimiters. For the repeat downloads, the Excel macro might be a way (once we get around the politics of "who" is supposed to write/maintain them). . .

The "power user" in question is a very senior business/statistical analyst, but not so much of a technician.

 

[SkipVought]

downloaded file automagically stored on multiple sheets."

What is your logic for determining sheet discrimination?

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[MakeItSo]

As for the Excel format:
Save your simple test Excel file as a 2003 XML calculation table.
See if that would suffice for you.

Cheers,
MakeItSo

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” (Kofi Annan)
Oppose SOPA, PIPA, ACTA; measures to curb freedom of information under whatever name whatsoever.

 

[papadba]

"What is your logic for determining sheet discrimination?"
Similar to control breaks in a "report" - when the code that creates the data-delimited file detects a "break" the control info to end/begin a sheet would be inserted.

Save your simple test Excel file as a 2003 XML calculation table."
See if that would suffice for you."
Thanks, that may be a step along the way.