[Explanation & Tips] ODS File – What Is It & How to Open It?

What Is an ODS File?

You may not hear about ODS files, but you definitely have seen them on your computer. It is commonly used in your daily work or study.

An ODS file is an abbreviation of an OpenDocument spreadsheet. It presents you with a sheet full of cells filled with text, charts, pictures, formulas, and numbers so that you can better manage your content.

Nowadays, many software in the market vied in bringing better office experience for making spreadsheets, such as Google Docs, Apache OpenOffice, Microsoft Office, WPS Office, etc.

Let’s give it a simple definition. In a nutshell, ODS is a file format for storing data in the form of rows and columns

Features of ODS Files

1. ODS file format can be converted into XLSX, PDF, and other file formats.
2. You can customize the ODS file format as you want, such as the font size, the background color of particular cells, and other features.
3. You can apply formulas for better calculation.

Pros and Cons of ODS Files

Pros of ODS Files

1. The form of the table is easy to manage.
2. Large amounts of data can be stored.
3. Other file formats are allowed to convert.
4. Mathematical and statistical calculations are easily performed.
5. Customized configurations are available.

Cons of ODS Files

1. Computing large amounts of data can take time.
2. Human errors can lead to wrong results.

What Does an ODS File Use for?

Just like Microsoft Excel, ODS files play a much more important role in your working and studying. It can help you make graphs and charts, making the whole tendency more direct and concise. It can improve your working efficiency and helps you forecast and determine better strategies for the future.

Besides, ODS files can be the best way to sort large amounts of data. You can sort your data in ascending/descending order or alphabetically and it also allows you to search for a specific target.

If you want to make your budget, ODS files can also be a better choice. It can easily calculate budgets by setting a correct formula and minimize your workload by some simple operations.

How to Open an ODS File?

To open an OpenDocument spreadsheet, you need to resort to some other programs because this file format can’t be opened directly.

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For Windows users

Step 1: Make sure you have installed Apache OpenOffice Suite or Microsoft Office on your computer so that ODS files can be opened with the free Calc program that comes as part of the OpenOffice suite.

Step 2: After installing the program, right-click on the ODS file you are prepared to open and choose the Open with option from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Choose Apache OpenOffice Suite to open this ODS file.

For Mac users

Step 1: Just like Windows, you need to install Apache OpenOffice Suite or Microsoft Office on your computer.

Step 2: After the installation, open the program and choose File and then Open.

Step 3: Find the ODS file you want to open and choose to open it.

Step 4: When a dialogue box appears, you need to select Allow.

Then your ODS file can be opened.

Can’t Open an ODS File?

If you have tried the above methods, but your ODS file remains still, you can consider if you mistake in the file extension spelling. For example, if the file extension is ODP, such a file is available for an OpenOffice program but not for Calc.

Therefore, when you encounter the “ODS Files not opening” issue, you can double-check the file extension first. If the file is checked for right, you can ensure permission to the applications for opening the ODS files.

If all requirements are satisfied, you can restart the computer or reinstall the program to see if the issue can be fixed.

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Bottom Line:

This article about what an ODS file is has clarified the definition and use of OSD files. You can also see its features and functions through this article. hope this post can be useful for you.