You may be familiar with the term “Excel files,” and many people use them to store their data. However, not all Excel files are created equal. There are a few different types of Excel files that you should know about before using one. In this article, you will learn the differences between these types of files and how you can choose which is best for your needs.
Table of Contents
Raw data
Excel files are used to store raw data. They can be edited, and the data in them can be rearranged by the user. However, they are also more vulnerable to hackers and viruses due to their open nature.
Pdfs are used to store formatted data, meaning that they show only what is on the page, not what’s behind it. The formatting cannot be changed within a pdf, and it cannot be edited at all (unless you use special tools). This makes it much more secure than an Excel file because anyone who wants access to your files will have difficulty doing so if all they can see is an image of them.
Future use
If you need to share your Excel file with someone or if you want to make changes to it in the future, then you’ll have no problem doing so. But if a PDF is formatted correctly and has been saved as a flattened file, there’s no way for someone else to make edits or add more information later on unless they first go on converting PDF to Excel.
Another advantage of storing all your files in one place is that it makes them easier to locate when needed. If each person working on an assignment had his own folder full of files, he would need help locating any given document at any point during the project.
Editing
Excel files and pdfs have their own advantages. Excel is a spreadsheet program, so it’s much easier to make changes to an existing file since you can easily move around cells, add or delete rows and columns, and change data directly in each cell. As per Adobe Acrobat’s experts, “PDFs are more secure because they’re not editable by anyone who has a computer—they can be opened only with the correct software (reader) or application (Acrobat).” This means that if your document is shared via pdf format, nobody can fiddle with the formatting or content unless they already have access to your reader software.
Security
The first thing to understand is that Excel files have a lot more security built in than PDFs. With an Excel file, you can rest assured that no one is going to try and mess with your data. If someone tries to open the document and edit it, they’ll be blocked by a password prompt.
On top of this, if you want to print an Excel file on paper, there’s no way for them to change it or make changes without being detected. This means that even if someone gets hold of your printed copy, they won’t be able to tamper with it (unless they have access to some sort of hacking software).
There are many reasons why Excel is the best choice for your data. There are many other formats out there, but none of them can match the usability and flexibility that comes with using Microsoft Excel.