What is a ODS file
The OpenDocument Format (ODF) spreadsheets are referred to as ODS files. This free ISO-standardized format is used worldwide due to its high amounts of program support, including free programs like LibreOffice Suite and OpenOffice. Spreadsheets are interactive computer application programs used to store, organize, and analyze various forms of data using tables similar to Microsoft Excel. Programs using the ODS file extension can often save files as XLSX files and use related extensions. One of the biggest issues when converting between ODS and Excel spreadsheets is image support.
When using OpenDocument Spreadhseets, formatting can be lost upon saving or opening using different programs. Not all features in ODS files are available in, for example, Excel. Similarly, there are many features and formatting options Microsoft Excel offers which OpenDocument Spreadsheets does not. Like any office programs, the free and open source versions are not identical to the Microsoft (or any other) programs of a similar nature. This is why it is always wise to consult those receiving files as to which file type they prefer, to decrease the need for file conversion. Upon receiving files under an ODS file extension which the user can not open, OpenDocument Spreadsheets can be downloaded.
Here's a small, but not exhaustive list of programs that can open ODS documents:
- Microsoft Office 2007
- Microsoft Office 2010
- OpenOffice Calc
