LanguageRelated extensions:
The following tables list the Open XML file formats (OOXML, OpenXML) and their extensions that are used by Microsoft Word 2010, Microsoft Excel 2010, and Microsoft PowerPoint 2010. For a list of all file formats and extensions that are supported by Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, see File formats supported in Office 2010 (external link).
Microsoft have announced that as of Office 2007, all Microsoft Office document files use file formats based on XML.
Word 2007, Word 2010 and above versions will now use the .docx (or .docm) file extension instead of .doc
Excel 2007, Excel 2010 and above will now use the .xlsx file extension instead of .xls
PowerPoint 2007, PowerPoint 2010 and above will now use the .pptx file extension instead of .ppt
Features of Microsoft Office Open XML file formats
Smaller file sizes
All Microsoft Office Open XML formatted files are compressed, potentially reducing file size by 75% and therefore reducing the disk storage space required to store the files. Compressing the files also reduces the bandwidth required to send the files by email, ftp, over networks or across the Internet. New Open XML office files are automatically compressed when saving, and uncompressed when opening. No additional software is required to compress the data, as this is a built-in component of Microsoft Office.
Improved data recovery
Microsoft’s Open XML formatted files are created in a modular structure. This means that if a chart in the middle of the data has become corrupt, you should be able to access the data before and after.
Better privacy
Using Microsoft’s document inspector, you are now able to view files that may contain potentially sensitive information such as the document’s author, comments and file location.
Data integration and interoperability
Another benefit of basing files on XML is that the data can be accessed by any application that supports XML and zip compression.
Macro identification
Under Office 2007, it will be easier to determine which files contain macros (which can be potentially dangerous). All Office files that have the ‘x’ suffix (.docx, .xlsx) cannot contain macros. Instead, only Office files that have the ‘m’ extension suffix (.docm, .xlsm) can contain macros.
Word, Excel, PowerPoint Open XML file extensions
Word 2010 or Word 2007
|
Extension |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Word Document |
|
The default Word file format. Cannot store VBA macro code. |
|
Word Macro-Enabled Document |
|
Uses the same basic XML format as the Word document format, but can store VBA macro code. This file type is created when VBA macro code is present in the file. |
|
Word Template |
|
The default format for a Word template. Created when document styles and formatting are saved. Cannot store VBA macro code. |
|
Word Macro-Enabled Template |
|
Stores macro code for use with other Word documents. Does not always contain macro code, but is configured to support the storage of macro code. Word documents created from a macro-enabled template do not inherit the VBAProject part of the template. By default, documents are saved as .docx files even when they are created from a Word macro-enabled template. |
Excel 2010 or Office Excel 2007
|
Extension |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Excel Workbook |
|
The default Excel file format. Cannot store VBA macro code or Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm files in Excel 4.0). |
|
Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook |
|
Uses the same basic XML format as the Excel Workbook, but can store VBA macro code. Users saving an Excel workbook that has VBA code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm files in Excel 4.0) are prompted to use this file format. |
|
Excel Template |
|
The default file format for an Excel template. Cannot store VBA macro code or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm files in Excel 4.0). |
|
Excel Macro-Enabled Template |
|
Can contain a VBAProject part or Excel 4.0 macro sheets (.xlm files in Excel 4.0). Workbooks created from this template inherit the VBAProject part or Excel 4.0 macro sheets that exist in the template. |
|
Excel Add-In |
|
A supplemental program that runs additional code. Excel add-ins use the Open XML file format to store data, and they support using VBA projects and Excel 4.0 macro sheets. |
PowerPoint 2010 or PowerPoint 2007 file type |
Extension |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
PowerPoint Presentation |
|
The default PowerPoint XML format. Cannot contain a VBAProject part (the part that stores VBA macro code) or Action settings. |
|
PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation |
|
The same basic XML format as the PowerPoint XML presentation format, but can store VBA macro code. Users saving a PowerPoint XML presentation file that contains VBA macro code are prompted to use this file type. |
|
PowerPoint Template |
|
An XML-based PowerPoint template. Created when a presentation does not have a VBAProject part and does not use Action settings. |
|
PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Template |
|
Users saving a PowerPoint XML template that contains VBA macro code are prompted to use this file type. Presentations created from this template do not inherit the VBAProject part or Action settings. |
|
PowerPoint Add-In |
|
PowerPoint presentation designed to be executed as a supplemental program. All PowerPoint add-ins are macro-enabled. |
|
PowerPoint Show |
|
An XML-based PowerPoint auto-running slide show. Cannot contain a VBAProject part. |
|
PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Show |
|
An XML-based PowerPoint slide show file that contains a VBAProject part. Created when the auto-running slide show includes VBA macro code. |