.ODS File Extension

OpenDocument Spreadsheet

Developer OASIS
Popularity
3.6  |  267 Votes
 

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, similar to .XLSX spreadsheets, and it may also contain charts, mathematical functions, and formatting. Several programs can open, edit, save, and convert ODS files, including the Calc apps in the LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice suites and Microsoft Excel.

More Information

Screenshot of a .ods file in Apache OpenOffice Calc 4
ODS file open in Apache OpenOffice Calc 4

LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice are 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 Format

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 OpenOffice Calc and LibreOffice Calc. Calc is the best option for opening ODS files because it fully supports the formatting of OpenDocument spreadsheets, which may include the spacing of data fields, graphs, etc.

Various other spreadsheet applications can open and edit ODS files, but they may not fully support the formatting of the original spreadsheets. Alternative programs include Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.

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
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Programs that open ODS files

Outlook Express 5 Mailbox

Developer Microsoft
Popularity
3.2  |  17 Votes
 

An ODS file may also be a mailbox created by Microsoft Outlook Express 5. It contains email messages and mailbox settings. ODS files have names like Messages.ods.

More Information

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.

Programs that open ODS files

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