Question

we use an application that has an “export to excel” feature that doesn’t work on PC’s that done have outlook express installed.

i know, you’re thinking “WTF does outlook express have to do with excel files?”

i asked the same thing, and here’s what i found:

• the file being generated is actually one of those Microsoft Single File Web Pages (.mht) and NOT an excel file
• you need to have outlook express installed to actually view a .mht file.

i’ve explained to their support people that just because you can slap a .xls on a file and excel will open it does not mean its an excel file, and does not mean that this is the right way to do it.

how would you explain that this is not proper?

Answer 1

Many people (especially managers) confuse Excel files with reporting files. In my opinion, a file is only qualified as an Excel file if it meets all of these conditions:

1. Is a spreadsheet formatted in one of the many Microsoft Excel formats.
2. Can be opened in the most recent version of Microsoft Excel.
3. Is editable in Microsoft Excel.

In your case, I’m guessing only condition #3 is met, so it’s no Excel file. But your support people may still call it a reporting file.