Problem with Excel file size - help needed!

Joebob · 26 Sep 2012 at 09:13

I have two tables of data, one 8MB the other is 4MB. Anyway, I went through the two tables and sorted the data into sub categories (months) and then combined all the data from the two into one document.

I then separated a quarters worth of data and emailed it to a colleague, it was about 3MB in size. This was 3 months ago.

I went to do the same yesterday, giving the next quarters data, but the file size is now 30MB and yet there are a similar amount of records to the first batch - I cant figure out what I'm doing differently!

HELP!!!!!

bledd · 26 Sep 2012 at 09:18

Are you using xls or xlsx?

Xlsx tend to be smaller..

Also, you can compress them really well with zip or 7z.

Use 7 zip and make a zip file on ultra. Windows can open them with out needing 7 zip installed

HeX · 26 Sep 2012 at 10:03

Have you left pivot tables in it? They bump up file size considerably.

edscdk · 26 Sep 2012 at 10:24

has someone filled a column or row all the way to the end, (ie row 65000 or column zzzzz or what ever)

when you open the sheet you can easily tell - look at both of the scroll bars that allow you to go up/down and left/right if the bar that you drag to scroo is small then in that access someone has filled (maybe a value so you can see it maybe a formula) all the way to the end...

edscdk · 26 Sep 2012 at 10:25

forgot to add formatting filled all the way will also do it

Joebob · 26 Sep 2012 at 12:26

bledd. said:
Are you using xls or xlsx?

Use 7 zip and make a zip file on ultra. Windows can open them with out needing 7 zip installed

Tried saving as both, hardly makes any difference. Also tried zipping it and while it's a lot small it's still far too big to email. About 13MB

HeX said:
Have you left pivot tables in it? They bump up file size considerably.

How do I check and clear pivot tables?

edscdk said:
has someone filled a column or row all the way to the end, (ie row 65000 or column zzzzz or what ever)

when you open the sheet you can easily tell - look at both of the scroll bars that allow you to go up/down and left/right if the bar that you drag to scroo is small then in that access someone has filled (maybe a value so you can see it maybe a formula) all the way to the end...

No, I have checked already and the data ends where it should.

edscdk said:
forgot to add formatting filled all the way will also do it

Is there any way I can clear all formatting easily?