All iPads Strange Excel & Word problem

[The Samurai]

So i've received two documents via email and trying to open them in MS Outlook on the iPad.

I am presented with the attached error. I've tried opening up Excel and Word and both are singed into 365 and up to date. Im using iOS 12 which is up to date.

Is this another case of "the iPad is not a real computer"?

 

[bradbomb]

I’m having a guess its actually a .xlsx file and was misnamed a .xls. Try renaming the file and resending

 

[AutomaticApple]

I’m having a guess its actually a .xlsx file and was misnamed a .xls. Try renaming the file and resending

That's what I think too.

 

[0989382]

I'd be surprised if Excel for iOS didn't recognise the old 97-03 (XLS) format at all tbh, in the world of enterprise and Windows it's impossible to dodge older format files, much to my dismay!

 

[rui no onna]

So i've received two documents via email and trying to open them in MS Outlook on the iPad.

I am presented with the attached error. I've tried opening up Excel and Word and both are singed into 365 and up to date. Im using iOS 12 which is up to date.

Is this another case of "the iPad is not a real computer"?

Did you actually try sending the file to Excel via Share Sheets? Excel should ask if you want to convert the file to the newer format.

Now if you're just trying to preview it in Outlook, the Outlook app may not support legacy formats at all. Apps are sand boxed on iOS so having updated Word and Excel apps doesn't really mean anything to Outlook.

 

[secretk]

I'd be surprised if Excel for iOS didn't recognise the old 97-03 (XLS) format at all tbh, in the world of enterprise and Windows it's impossible to dodge older format files, much to my dismay!

To be honest I would not be that surprised. I agree with you all of you that the error seems to be somehow related to the file format. Not sure what kind of format it is but it seems this format is not supported.

Indeed it could be possible that Outlook does not support file and not Excel.

To the poster do you have an access to that email from a computer? I think that with right click action you can easily check the actual format on a computer. You will be able also to check if it is indeed an old format or not. You will be also able to convert it to a new format if needed.

 

[The Samurai]

It doesn't let me share or view it on any other app.

I resorted to using the trusty old Macbook as it works perfectly fine on there.

 

[bradbomb]

It doesn't let me share or view it on any other app.

I resorted to using the trusty old Macbook as it works perfectly fine on there.

Are you using iOS 12 or 13? Have you tried looking at the email in the default Mail App and see if the share button functions better to “Copy to Excel”?