Post excel file

[Jimbrown]

Any chance that you can change the allowable file types to allow the upload of an excel XLS file?

 

[TedLaRue]

Here are a couple of ways to post spreadsheets using "tricks". However, readers should be very cautious about opening such an attachment for the reason given in blue below.

I created a sample Excel spreadsheet and zipped it with WinZip, then attached that file.View attachment 83655

I also simply renamed the spreadsheet to have a "txt" extension, and attached it here:View attachment 83656

These "tricks" aren't convenient for either the poster or the recipient. There are a variety of reasons the powers to be might disallow spreadsheets, one of which is that they may contain malicious macros. A posting from a member who posts here frequently is probably safe, but check the join date and number of posts. Someone could create a spoof account using Farm_With_Junk which looks a lot like the veteran member Farmwithjunk. Of course a username like Bird would be pretty hard to spoof!

 

[Ibrahim]

Exactly. Macros can be dangerous. At least if they're zipped up, you have to save them and open them and it forces you to focus on the file. I know IE automatically opens some Microsoft files, and it could easily automatically run some macros and get you in trouble.

So if you need to upload a "non-allowed" file, I'd suggest like TedLaRue says and just zip it up.

-Ibrahim

 

[TedLaRue]

I know IE automatically opens some Microsoft files

The zip format is so common that a lot of software will also automatically search and open zipped files. (This web site apparently doesn't...yet.)

One more caution:
In some places, Windows hides the file extension. Rather than showing MyDog.jpg it will show only MyDog. But Windows also allows multiple extensions so that a file name like Pets.Cat.jpg is ok, and may appear as only Pets.Cat.

A "bad guy" could create a nasty program (executable) containing malicious code and name the file MyDog.jpg.exe. Windows might display the file name as simply MyDog.jpg since it's hiding the file extension. You might think it's ok to open what appears to be a picture file, and unwittingly cause Windows to execute a malicious program.

I'm not trying to be Mr. FearMonger here. It seems unlikely that anyone would attack members of these forums, and the host of TBN probably has some safeguards in place.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Resurrecting an old thread. Zip files do not seem to work any more. When I click on the one above or ones I try to post I get an "invalid or corrupted" error. Is it a bug in the forum?

Thanks,
Brad

 

[bp fick]

Any chance that you can change the allowable file types to allow the upload of an excel XLS file?

Of course one couldn't edit it, but still, all you'd have to do is export your Excel file as a .pdf and go ahead and post it.
Yup, 2 and a half year old thread.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

The .txt rename trick still works.

 

[Willl]

Zip files do not seem to work any more. When I click on the one above or ones I try to post I get an "invalid or corrupted" error. Is it a bug in the forum?

Don't know, but that zip file downloads just fine with me.