How to use the xlsx inspector
- Choose an Excel workbook (.xlsx or .xlsm). Older .xls and binary .xlsb files are not read.
- Read the summary: sheets, hidden and very hidden sheets, formulas, defined names, links to other files, comments, tables, charts, pictures and whether a macro project is present.
- Check the sheet table for each sheet visibility, formula count, cell count, hidden rows and columns, comments and protection.
- Review the defined names, external link targets and the properties saved in the file, then download the sheet list as CSV.
What the workbook reveals
An Excel workbook is a ZIP package of XML parts. The workbook part lists the sheets with a state: visible, hidden, or very hidden. A hidden sheet can be shown from the right-click menu, but a very hidden sheet does not appear in that menu at all and can only be revealed through the macro editor, so it is worth knowing it exists before you share a file. The tool also counts hidden rows and columns, which keep their data even when you cannot see them.
Formulas are counted from the stored sheet files: each formula cell counts once, including cells that share a formula with another cell. External links show the path of the other workbook a formula refers to, which can leak folder names and cause update prompts when someone opens the file. The properties section lists the author, who last saved the file and the application, which are often forgotten when a file is passed on.
A worked example
A test workbook has three sheets: Data (visible), Hidden calc (hidden) and Secret (very hidden). Data holds 15 cells including 3 formulas, one comment, one hidden row and one hidden column. Hidden calc has 1 formula and Secret has 1, so the workbook has 5 formulas. It defines two names, Rate (Data!$B$2) and Total, and the author properties name Pat Example and Sam Example. The numbers match what openpyxl reports for the same file.
This tool only reads the file. It does not calculate formulas, open links or run macros. To convert a sheet to a text table, use Excel to CSV; to bring CSV into a workbook, CSV to Excel; and to list comments in a Word document, the DOCX comments extractor.
Assumptions and limits
- The workbook is in the Open XML format. Password-protected workbooks, which are encrypted, cannot be read.
- Counts come from the stored file. A cell without a stored formula, or a value computed only when the file is opened, is not counted.
- A macro project is only detected, never read or run.
- Up to 400 MB of unpacked content and 5,000 package entries are read.
Frequently asked questions
What is a very hidden sheet?
It is a sheet whose state is set to very hidden. It is not shown in the unhide list in Excel, and it can only be made visible with the macro editor. People use it to keep helper data out of sight.
Does this remove hidden sheets?
No. It only reports what is in the file and never changes it. Use Excel to unhide or delete a sheet after you have looked at what it holds.
Why is the formula count lower than Excel shows?
The count is based on the formulas stored in the file. Excel can count formulas inside tables, data validation or conditional formatting separately. This page counts cell formulas only.
Can it find passwords or protected content?
No. It shows whether a sheet or the workbook structure is protected, but it does not try to read or remove protection. A password-protected file is encrypted and cannot be opened here.