The Household Budget Tracker
Spreadsheet kitYour categories, your plan: log spending and income, and see every month, bills coming due, and savings goals.
How to Open an .xlsx Template in Excel, LibreOffice or Numbers
Step-by-step ways to open a spreadsheet template in the major apps, what usually carries over (formulas, dropdowns, charts), what can change, and habits that stop you breaking the formulas.
A spreadsheet template in .xlsx format is not tied to one app. The same file opens in desktop spreadsheet programs, in free browser-based apps and on most tablets. Here is how to open one in each of the common apps, and how to avoid the few problems people run into.
Before you start: keep an untouched copy
Download the file and keep the original somewhere safe (a "downloads" or "originals" folder). Work on a copy. If something goes wrong, you can always start again from the original instead of trying to repair a formula.
Microsoft Excel (desktop or web)
- Desktop: double-click the file, or use File > Open. If a yellow "Protected View" bar appears (common for downloaded files), click Enable Editing after you've checked the file came from where you expected.
- Excel for the web: sign in to the free web version with a Microsoft account, upload the file to OneDrive, then open it. Most formulas, dropdowns and conditional formatting work the same as on the desktop.
LibreOffice Calc
LibreOffice is free and opens .xlsx files directly: File > Open, then pick the file. When you save, it asks whether to keep the Excel format or switch to its own .ods format. Choose Use Excel 2007-365! to keep the file shareable with people using other apps.
Apple Numbers
Numbers can open .xlsx files (File > Open). It converts the file into a Numbers document, and some features may not convert exactly, for example some conditional formatting rules, chart types or data validation. If a template depends heavily on those, a free option such as LibreOffice or Excel for the web will usually give a closer match.
Phones and tablets
The mobile apps for Excel can open and edit templates, including dropdowns. They're fine for quick entries (ticking a habit, logging a purchase), but setting a template up is much easier on a larger screen.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A total shows an error or stops updating | A formula cell was typed over or deleted | Copy that cell from your untouched original, or from the cell above it |
| Dates look like five-digit numbers | The cell lost its date format | Format the cell as a date |
| Numbers with commas aren't added up | Your app's region uses a different decimal separator | Check the spreadsheet's locale or region setting |
| Pasting breaks the colours or dropdowns | Pasting brings formatting with it | Use "paste values only" (Paste Special) |
| "Today" numbers look out of date | The file hasn't recalculated | Edit any cell, or reopen the file |
Habits that keep a template working
- Type only in input cells. Good templates make clear which cells are for typing and which calculate. Leave the calculated ones alone.
- Paste values, not formatting. When copying from a bank export or another sheet, use paste-values so you don't overwrite dropdowns or formulas.
- Add rows inside the table, not below it. Totals usually cover a fixed range. Insert rows inside that range (or use the spare blank rows) so they're included.
- Back up monthly. A dated copy once a month means one mistake never costs you a year of entries.
Related in the shop
The Yearly Habit Tracker
Spreadsheet kitTick off up to 12 habits every day of the year. Streaks, weekly goals and monthly completion work themselves out.
The Trip Planner
Spreadsheet kitDay-by-day itinerary, bookings with cancellation deadlines, budget vs. spending, shared expenses, a packing list and a pre-trip checklist.
Sold by Quietcog. Support: gb1@mail.grokbot.com. General information only, not professional advice.