10 rows
26.5 KB
10-row XLS sample file (26.5 KB)
1 sheet
XLSDownload XLSXLS · 4 files
Sample XLS files - free legacy Excel downloads
Download simple Excel 97-2003 workbooks with predictable dummy data. Each binary .xls file has one Data sheet for testing older spreadsheet applications, uploads and import tools.
4 files XLS 10 - 5,000 rows Simple rows and columns
XLS sample library
Download XLS sample files by row count
4 files
100 rows
41.0 KB
100-row XLS sample file (41.0 KB)
1 sheet
XLSDownload XLS1,000 rows
177.0 KB
1,000-row XLS sample file (177.0 KB)
1 sheet
XLSDownload XLS5,000 rows
781.0 KB
5,000-row XLS sample file (781.0 KB)
1 sheet
XLSDownload XLSLegacy Excel testing guide
Use XLS samples to test older spreadsheet systems
XLS is the binary Excel 97-2003 workbook format, also known as BIFF8. Use these samples when checking compatibility with older office software or import pipelines.
What is inside each XLS sample?
Each file contains one Data sheet with ID, name, email, company, city, country, amount and date columns. The 10-row sample is intentionally smaller with three columns. The workbooks contain no formulas or macros.
Choose 10 or 100 rows for a quick import check. Use 1,000 or 5,000 rows for larger upload and compatibility tests.
Before using a sample
- ✓Confirm that your software accepts the .xls extension.
- ✓Check that the first row is interpreted as column headings.
- ✓Verify text, numbers and dates after importing the workbook.
Frequently asked questions
What is an XLS file?
XLS is the older binary Excel workbook format used by Excel 97 through Excel 2003 and some legacy business applications.
How is XLS different from XLSX?
XLS stores workbook data in the older BIFF binary format. XLSX uses the newer ZIP-based Open XML format.
Do these XLS files contain formulas or macros?
No. Each sample contains one simple worksheet with test data and no formulas or macros.
XLS format details
Extension
.xlsMIME type
application/vnd.ms-excelWorkbook structure
Data
Free XLS sample files for legacy Excel testing
Download sample XLS workbooks to test older Excel compatibility, BIFF8 parsers, file uploads and spreadsheet imports.
Test legacy Excel support
Use BIFF8 sample workbooks to check older office applications and systems that still require the .xls extension.
Choose a row count
Small files help validate basic imports. Larger samples can check processing limits while remaining within the classic XLS row limit.
Keep test data predictable
Each workbook has a fixed row count, one Data sheet and fictional records for repeatable development and QA checks.
About the XLS file format
XLS is the familiar filename extension for legacy Microsoft Excel workbooks. The Excel 97–2003 generation stores worksheet data in a binary workbook format, which is why these files are useful when checking older office software and import systems.
A legacy Excel format
Excel used XLS as its primary workbook format before Office 2007. Newer Excel versions adopted Office Open XML as the default while keeping support for many older XLS workbooks.
Classic worksheet limits
Excel versions 97 through 2003 supported up to 65,536 rows and 256 columns per worksheet. These sample files are deliberately small and stay well within those limits.
When to choose XLS
Use an XLS sample when a legacy application specifically asks for the .xls extension or when you need to test binary workbook imports. For newer integrations, compare with XLSX or ODS samples.
Background: Wikipedia — Microsoft Excel and Office filename extensions: Microsoft Excel · Office filename extensions