Final attempt save as binary question

[Kevryl]

This is about my fifth attempt since March, so far without eliciting a single
reply (last attempt seems to have disappeared into the ether):

Re Excel 2007 "Save as binary". Its supposed to save space and be quicker.
So why isn't it the default method? Is there a downside? For example, will
macros no longer work? Are there reduced functions in a file saved as binary?
I need to know before I save a large and majorly important (to me) file with
heaps of worksheets and macros and find down the track that I've lost
something significant!

There HAS to be some reason why files are not saved by default as binary,
but so far no-one seems to know, and I can find nothing to explain this in
"help".

 

[Ed Ferrero]

Hi Kevryl,

I assume you have seen this?
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/excel/archive/2006/07/20/671995.aspx

Ed Ferrero
www.edferrero.com

 

[Sheeloo]

Just so that you don't feel left out...

Here is the reason from the link given by Ed

"When your scenarios will require the improved open/save performance of the
binary file format, use XLSB; otherwise the benefits of the XML format often
outweigh the (usually unnoticeable) performance benefit of this format."

Unless you have issues with time taken to Open and Save... default formats
are good enough.

Also as my company's dress code policy says "in case you are wondering
whether I shoudl wear this or not then probably you should not"

You should use this format only after you understand the benefits or after
experimentation with few spreadsheets... do keeps a xlsx copy.

 

[bala_vb]

This is about my fifth attempt since March, so far without eliciting
single
reply (last attempt seems to have disappeared into the ether):

Re Excel 2007 "Save as binary". Its supposed to save space and b
quicker.
So why isn't it the default method? Is there a downside? For example
will
macros no longer work? Are there reduced functions in a file saved a
binary?
I need to know before I save a large and majorly important (to me) fil
with
heaps of worksheets and macros and find down the track that I've lost
something significant!

There HAS to be some reason why files are not saved by default a
binary,
but so far no-one seems to know, and I can find nothing to explain thi
in
"help".

In General binary excel are quicker to access, less chance o
corruption, very easy to repair becase they store data in xml format
it is recommended to save huge data files are binary format.

all the bes

 

[Kevryl]

Thanks, Bala, thats useful but I'm still wondering why Excel 2007 doesn't
simply save all files as binary.

 

[Kevryl]

Hi Ed, no I haven't (have now tho) - didnt know it existed: Thanks.

The article alludes to the benefits of the XML format over binary,. but
doen't give any hint as to what they are. However, it doesn't appear that
I'll lose anything so I'll start experimenting.

 

[Kevryl]

Hi Sheeloo,

Thanks! Don't feel left out any more, LOL.

As I said to Ed, thyge article doesn't actually say what the benefits of the
XML formats are, but it doesn'ty appear that I'll lose anything, and since
opening and closing do take quite a while I'll try experimenting.

Thankls for taking the time with me.