I downloaded a file from my email that was originated in Excel. It saved on my device(Linux, Ubuntu) as .xlxs??. It opens in LibreOffice Calc. I extracted the file and was able to view the different files alternatively. I have few questions. When going into the original .xlxs file (which I extracted) when I Ctrl+F and enter a search term, I’m this case it’s a call log, it is popping up on cells that do not match my search term…for example: I searched 0102 and certain cells that do not have this sequence of digits are being highlighted. Does this mean that those individual cells were altered and originally held that sequence of numbers? I do not understand why it’s selecting those cells now after the extraction. What exactly does extracting do to the document associated with it besides open uncompressed files, does it remember original data? What are the parameters for Ctrl+F, I just want the cells with the exact sequence 0102…not a sum or anything else.
What exactly do you mean with “extracting the file”? Does it mean you saved it from the email attachment to your PC? Please clarify. ---- How exactly do you search for a certain string? Only ctrl+f or which are you using advanced search function? Please explain.
I think a number of things might get us forwarder:
(*) We answerers are more-or-less assuming that you meant file
extensions .xlsx where you wrote .xlxs. Can you explicity either
confirm that assumption or confirm that you really meant .xlxs?
(*) (Are you familiar with using the “terminal”? If not ask for
guidance.) Please tell us the output of command file --mime-type [filename], substituting the name of your file for [filename].
(*) Please once again one of the bad hit
The system truncated my last comment. Picking up … Please once
again find one of the bad hits. Then tell us: () What search
criteria did you use? () What doese the formula bar show?
When I saved the file to my desktop, it saved as .xlxs and I right clicked it and it it had an option to “extract” so I did and it populated additional folders. Then when I went into the .xlxs document and did a ‘find’ with the control+F key, I searched the term and I clicked next over and over and it was recognizing those digits in cells that did not have those numbers in it. I don’t understand why it’s selecting those cells but not all the other ones when I don’t see that in there…
“extract” - Now I understand what you mean. Unfortunately I cannot verify that because I am still running XP.
In general all the xlsx, ods,… files are kind of “folders” with several files in them.
However, why do you EXTRACT the xlsx-file inside and not just OPEN the xlsx by double clicking on it without any EXTRACTION before?
I am trying to understand what you are doing to find a way to give you an answer.
(There is no .XLXS extension for Excel afaik. Do you mean .XLSX ?)
(I suppose the following will hold for Excel, but don’t actually know.)
LibreOffice Calc will find a sequence of digits searched for using the Find (Ctrl+F) utility or the ‘Search & Replace’ tool also inside numerical values which are auto-converted for the purpose into strings basing on the decimal system. This is also the behaviour of some functions, FIND() and SEARCH() among them.
If any cell is containing a numerical value this value may be displayed in very different ways (even explicitly lying) depending on the cell format set. ‘Find’ and ‘Search & Replace’ will rely on the actual value, not on what is displayed.
An example: The formula contained in a cell, say B3, has calculated the value 3.141592653… (the dots standing for some additional digits). You have set a currency format for B3 and the cell may display “3.14 $” according to it. Now you are looking out for “9265” using one of the above mentioned tools. B3 will be found. The same if the cell was formatted as a ‘Date-Time’ with many digits and showing “1900-01-02 03:23:53.61”.
(Depending on the setting of an option additional functions may find B3 looking for "92652 in that case.)