Excel File Size: Does it ever compress?

We use EXCEL 2000 on Windows 2000, a small network with 6 users. One particular XLS file contains about 20 to 30 worksheets, some with many rows. The file is shared by several of the users and it has now GROWN over 5 MB! I am a little nervous about the filesize. It works, but I am concerned about depending on one file for so much data..... Asssuming we go through and regularly delete the obsolete rows, is there some way Excel can compress the overall file to save space? (Short of using a real database program?) Thanks/// GG

 

As far as I know, Excel does not have a "compact" option like
Access. I seems pretty good at keeping itself as small a possible.
That is a very large set of worksheets, and I wonder if you can
figure out a better overall design of the application ?
Maybe take out no longer used worksheets to a backup ?
If not, I am sure you shutting it down regularly and making a backup. I suppose 5 mega is not a lot of space on todays
hard drives, but I can understand your concern.
regards

 

Sounds to me like you need to convert this excel file into Access. I don't know what exactly you do with this file, but with 6 users needing to use the same file I think Access would probably work for you alot better.

As for the file size I wouldn't worry about it...until you can't get it to run on your computer anymore

 

OK guys, thank you both for your comments. Before I learn Access and teach my staff, we will keep working with the Excel file as is... it does work for us.

We do save often and back it up every night. We also try to trim out old info as needed, though we have not done a real thorough house cleaning on this file for a while.

Thanks for the replies! GG.

 

Greg - I just did a quick check and we have Excel sheets shared on the network that are over 70Mb so yours is well within a safe size range.

Lots of advantages to using a database though and Access is pretty friendly. If it helps to know, you can import the spread sheet data into your Access database once it's written as long as you set it up to hold all the data elements you now have in the spreadsheet.

Lots safer too since there is less chance of an accidental user error wiping out or changing a bunch of info.

 

Newt,
Glad to hear somebody else lets their Excel files get so large! I will experiment with Access again, though we are trying to stay away from inventing too many systems. We use Quickbooks for finances and ACT6 for clients and products, and people keep developing Excel spreadsheets for everything else. So part of my job is keeping info central and discouraging too much sprawl. Thanks for your ideas. GG.