New XML based file extension used in Office 2010

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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
file type

Extension

Description

Word Document


 

.docx

 

The default Word file format. Cannot store VBA macro code.

Word Macro-Enabled Document


 

.docm

 

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


 

.dotx

 

The default format for a Word template. Created when document styles and formatting are saved. Cannot store VBA macro code.

Word Macro-Enabled Template


 

.dotm

 

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
file type

Extension

Description

Excel Workbook


 

.xlsx

 

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


 

.xlsm

 

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


 

.xltx

 

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


 

.xltm

 

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


 

.xlam

 

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


 

.pptx

 

The default PowerPoint XML format. Cannot contain a VBAProject part (the part that stores VBA macro code) or Action settings.

PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation


 

.pptm

 

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


 

.potx

 

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


 

.potm

 

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


 

.ppam

 

PowerPoint presentation designed to be executed as a supplemental program. All PowerPoint add-ins are macro-enabled.

PowerPoint Show


 

.ppsx

 

An XML-based PowerPoint auto-running slide show. Cannot contain a VBAProject part.

PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Show


 

.ppsm

 

An XML-based PowerPoint slide show file that contains a VBAProject part. Created when the auto-running slide show includes VBA macro code.

 

Related software and links:

Microsoft Office icon

Microsoft Office    Microsoft Windows platform
One of the most popular and powerful office suites on market

 
Microsoft Office for Mac icon

Microsoft Office for Mac    Apple macOS / Mac OS X platform
The latest release of Microsoft's productivity suite for Mac

 

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Related file extensions

docm - Microsoft Word Open XML macro-enabled document

docx - Microsoft Word Open XML document

dotm - Microsoft Word Open XML macro-enabled document template

dotx - Microsoft Word XML document template

potm - Microsoft PowerPoint macro-enabled Open XML template

potx - Microsoft PowerPoint Open XML presentation template

ppam - Microsoft PowerPoint macro-enabled Open XML add-in

ppsm - Microsoft PowerPoint macro-enabled Open XML complete slide show

ppsx - Microsoft PowerPoint Open XML complete slide show

pptm - Microsoft PowerPoint macro-enabled Open XML presentation

pptx - Microsoft PowerPoint Open XML presentation

xlam - Microsoft Excel Open XML macro-enabled add-in

xlsm - Microsoft Excel Open XML macro-enabled workbook

xlsx - Microsoft Excel Open XML workbook and spreadsheet

xltm - Microsoft Excel Open XML macro-enabled workbook template

xltx - Microsoft Excel Open XML workbook template

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