How To Look At Meta Data Of Excel Sheet

Every Excel file has metadata. According to Wikipedia, "Metadata is data [information] that provides information near other data". That ways, metadata is some data which is non your content of your file only rather information like the author proper noun, information saved or even the file proper name. Or in other words: If your Excel file is a letter or bundle, the address written on it is the metadata.

In many cases, the metadata is very useful: You tin can easily run into who edited the file the last time or when was it saved the last time. But sometimes, you desire to remove this data. For example, when yous send your file to a customer and it however contains somehow information of your previous client.

This article introduces 5 methods to see, alter and remove the metadata of your Excel file.

Contents

Method 1. View virtually important metadata (east.g. writer name)
Method ii. Meet the metadata with the Windows Explorer
Method 3. Utilize the Excel Certificate Inspector
Method iv. Professor Excel Tools
Method v. Other subconscious information
Method half dozen. Encounter the raw contents of your file
- Also interesting:

In Excel, click on "File" and then on "Info" to see the document properties. — In Excel, click on "File" and then on "Info" to see the certificate properties.

The first method is really quite simple. Excel can prove you the about relevant metadata – the "certificate backdrop". Just follow these steps.

Open your Excel file in Excel and click on "File" in the pinnacle-left corner of the window. Alternatively printing Alt and then F on the keyboard.
Click on "Info" on the left-hand side.
Excel shows a adept summary of the document backdrop saved to this file.
If y'all want to see (a few) more than details, click on "Show All Backdrop".

Most backdrop you can change here right away. Just click into the field (for case "Add a title" or "Add together an author").

Method 2. See the metadata with the Windows Explorer

The Windows Explorer can show some metadata without opening the file. — The Windows Explorer tin show some metadata without opening the file.

The Windows Explorer can as well show the most important metadata. The reward is that you don't even accept to open the file. Say you have a countersign protected Excel file and notwithstanding desire to know when it was saved or what day it was created. Delight note: If the file is password protected, some information is not show, e.g. the author name.

Follow these steps.

Navigate to the file in the Windows Explorer.
Select the view "Details". In club to achieve this, click go to the "View" ribbon and click on "Details" within the "Layout" group.
Yous can further select what type of information you'd like to come across. But right-click on the header row and prepare the check-marks for the desired items.

Method three. Apply the Excel Document Inspector

The Doeument Inspector can check and remove various hidden information and metadata. — The Document Inspector tin can check and remove diverse hidden information and metadata.

This method is specially useful if yous want to remove all metadata before sharing your Excel file. Excel provides a role to check your file for y'all. Not only metadata, but annihilation possible confidential is plant and tin be removed with just a few clicks.

Open your Excel file in Excel and click on "File" in the elevation-left corner of the window. Alternatively press Alt and and so F on the keyboard.
Click on "Info" on the left-hand side.
Click on "Bank check for Problems" and and then on "Inspect Document".
Click on "Inspect". After the usually quick analysis, Excel shows yous the results and offers to remove most of the bug.

Unfortunately, the Document Inspector for many cases doesn't provide further information (like the actual author proper name) merely just offers to remove them. The reward of this function is that you gain a comprehensive impression of all the issues – non merely the metadata itself – simply also other perhaps confidential content.

Method four. Professor Excel Tools

See the metadata with Professor Excel Tools. — Come across the metadata with Professor Excel Tools.

You want to gain a quick impression of the metadata? We've added such function to our Excel add-in "Professor Excel Tools". Just click on "Info" on the correct-hand side of the "Professor Excel" ribbon.

Information technology summarizes the following information.

Filename.
Folder saved in (if you click on the link the folder opens).
Full path.
Filesize.
Date created.
Date last saved.
Created by.
Last saved past.

Furthermore, yous can see a summary of your content, eastward.g. the number of worksheets, subconscious worksheets, headers and footers, hyperlinks, links to other workbooks and so on.

The all-time: With one click you can insert a summary worksheet so that you can comfortably copy and paste the information.

This function is included in our Excel Add-In 'Professor Excel Tools'

(No sign-upwards, download starts directly)

Method v. Other hidden data

Besides other certificate inspector, you can also manually check for other hidden data in your Excel file. The advantage of doing it manually: Yous tin can determine for each unmarried item what to practise with it. Remove, keep or change.

You could offset with the post-obit items.

Named ranges. Named ranges can contain binder path or other important information. Go to this page for more than information.
Links to other workbooks. Links once more tin bear witness long folder path, for instance to some other clients file. Check this article for more than information.
Hidden and very hidden sheets. Make sure that your Excel file doesn't take any (unwanted) subconscious or very hidden worksheets. This article has more than data.
Hidden rows and columns. Did you hide rows or columns in your workbook? Here is how you tin open them all at once.
Print titles. Does your workbook take (old) print headers and footers? This article has more information of how to edit them on all sheets at the aforementioned time.

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Method vi. See the raw contents of your file

contents, excel, workbook, xml, rel — The contents of an empty Excel workbook.

Our sixth and concluding method is probably more than relevant to advanced users. You tin can check all the raw contents of your file. It's recommended to save your file, close it and create a copy. Rename the re-create and supercede the .xlsx in the by .nothing. Now you tin can open the .zip file, click on "docProps" and open "core.xml". Now yous can see some chief metadata and change information technology. Simply please be careful: some changes might harm your Excel file.

This article has more information concerning this method and provides more detailed instructions.