The Gnumeric Manual
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# File Formats

In the Save as.. dialog you can choose between various file formats. (see Figure 1)

Figure 1. File Format Selector

Similarly, in the Import.. dialog you can also choose between various file formats. (see Figure 2)

Figure 2. File Format Selector

Most of these formats are provided by plug-ins. If they don't appear on your list of available plug-ins use the Tools Plug-ins... menu item to verify that the appropriate plug-in has been loaded.

## `Gnumeric` XML File Format

The default file format and `Gnumeric`'s native format is an xml based file. The file format is a ascii text based xml format. It is however, typically written and read in a gzip compressed form.

The uncompressed format is human readable and designed to be easily parsed. It is very extensible.

## Data Interchange Format

This format is supported by the "Data Interchange Format (DIF) module" plug-in.

| This format is available when saving or importing files.

## DVI TeX Format

This format is supported by the "HTML & TeX" plug-in.

| This format is only available when saving files.

Creation of a dvi file with `Gnumeric` requires that groff has been installed. If a complete TeX installation is available it is probably advisable to use the `LaTeX` format (the Section called `LaTeX` 2e Format) instead, since the created `LaTeX` file can be extensively customized before creating the dvi file from it.

Figure 3. `Gnumeric` Sample Screenshot

Example 1. Saving as DVI TeX

The screenshot Figure 3 shows an example `Gnumeric` file. If we save this file in DVI TeX format and open it using xdvi we obtain Figure 4.

Figure 4. xdvi Screenshot of DVI TeX File

## MS Excel (tm) File Formats

This format is supported by the "MS Excel (tm) File Formats" plug-in.

`Gnumeric` can open files from most recent versions of MS Excel (tm). It can also save files in MS Excel (tm) 95 format.

## Experimental Bonobo EFS Format

This format is supported by the "EXPERIMENTAL SAX based XML" plug-in.

| This format is available when importing or saving files.

## Gnome Glossary PO File Format

This format is supported by the "Gnome Glossary" plug-in.

| This format is only available when saving files.

## HTML File Formats

These formats are supported by the "HTML & TeX" plug-in.

### HTML generated by `Gnumeric`

| This format is only available when importing or opening files.

Very simple and well structured HTML tables can be opened by `Gnumeric` into an appropriate spreadsheet. In this process, `Gnumeric` will lose information on merged cells and most other formatting, but the main cell values should be preserved.

### HTML 3.2 File Format

| This format is only available when saving files.

`Gnumeric` can create HTML 3.2 files. All sheets of the current workbook are exported. The tables in the HTML 3.2 file contain all cells, whether visible or not, including merged cells and spans. Horizontal as well as vertical alignment is preserved, as are font colors and some font characteristics (italic, bold). These files also include an appropriate preamble.

Example 2. Saving as HTML 3.2

The screenshot Figure 3 in the Section called DVI TeX Format shows an example `Gnumeric` file. If we save this file in HTML 3.2 format and open it using `Mozilla 0.95` we obtain Figure 5.

Figure 5. `Mozilla` Screenshot of HTML 3.2 File

### HTML 4.0 File Format

| This format is only available when saving files.

`Gnumeric` can create HTML 4.0 files. All sheets of the current workbook are exported. The tables in the HTML 4.0 file contain all cells, whether visible or not, including merged cells and spans. Horizontal as well as vertical alignment is preserved, as are some font characteristics (italic, bold) and cell background colors. These files also include an appropriate preamble.

Example 3. Saving as HTML 4.0

The screenshot Figure 3 in the Section called DVI TeX Format shows an example `Gnumeric` file. If we save this file in HTML 4.0 format and open it using `Mozilla 0.95` we obtain Figure 6.

Figure 6. `Mozilla` Screenshot of HTML 4.0 File

### HTML Fragment Format

| This format is only available when saving files.

`Gnumeric` can create HTML fragments. All sheets of the current workbook are exported. The tables in such a fragment file contain all cells, whether visible or not, including merged cells and spans. Horizontal as well as vertical alignment is preserved, as are some font characteristics (italic, bold) as well as cell background and font colors. These files do not contain any preamble. Note that each tag used in these files is valid in some HTML version, the combination of these tags in a `Gnumeric` generated HTML fragment may not be.

Example 4. Saving as HTML fragment

The screenshot Figure 3 in the Section called DVI TeX Format shows an example `Gnumeric` file. If we save this file as an HTML fragment and open it using `Mozilla 0.95` we obtain Figure 7.

Figure 7. `Mozilla` Screenshot of HTML Fragment

## `LaTeX` 2e Format

This format is supported by the "HTML & TeX" plug-in.

| This format is only available when saving files.

Only the top sheet of the current workbook is exported.

The created `LaTeX` file can either be input into another `LaTeX` file (see the Section called Including Tables Into Other Documents) or latexed independently. See the content and the Section called Customizing The `LaTeX` Tables of the created file for various customization options.

Example 5. Saving as `LaTeX` file

The screenshot Figure 3 in the Section called DVI TeX Format shows an example `Gnumeric` file. If we save this file as `LaTeX` file, tex it using pdflatex and open it using xpdf we obtain Figure 8.

Figure 8. xpdf Screenshot of `LaTeX` file

### Including Tables Into Other Documents

To include an exported `Gnumeric` table into another `LaTeX` document you need to use several packages

            \usepackage{color}
            \usepackage{array}
            \usepackage{longtable}
            \usepackage{calc}
            \usepackage{multirow}
            \usepackage{hhline}
            \usepackage{ifthen}

and to add the following lines to the preamble of your document:

            \newlength{\gnumericTableWidth}
            \newlength{\gnumericTableWidthComplete}

When you have set up your main document in this way, include each table with:

            \input{mygnumericfile.tex}

### Customizing The `LaTeX` Tables

To switch from portrait to landscape for independently latexed tables, uncomment the line:

    	                  %,landscape%

to obtain

    	\documentclass[12pt%
    	                  ,landscape%
                        ]{report}

To change the column widths, look for the following section in the `LaTeX` file:

    %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
    %%                                                                  %%
    %% The following are the widths of the various columns. We are      %%
    %% defining them here because then they are easier to change.       %%
    %% Depending on the cell formats we may use them more than once.    %%
    %%                                                                  %%
    %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

    \def\gnumericColA{107pt*\gnumericScale}
    \def\gnumericColB{89pt*\gnumericScale}
    \def\gnumericColC{98pt*\gnumericScale}
    \def\gnumericColD{89pt*\gnumericScale}
    \def\gnumericColE{89pt*\gnumericScale}

To change the second column (Column B) to a width of 0.75 inches, we would simply have to modify this code to:

    \def\gnumericColA{107pt*\gnumericScale}
    \def\gnumericColB{0.75in}
    \def\gnumericColC{98pt*\gnumericScale}
    \def\gnumericColD{89pt*\gnumericScale}
    \def\gnumericColE{89pt*\gnumericScale}

## Linear and Integer Program File Format

This format is supported by the "Linear and integer expression (MPS) format module" plug-in.

| This format is only available when importing files.

## Plan Perfect Format

This format is supported by the "Plan Perfect" plug-in.

| This format is only available when importing files.

## PDF Format

Currently, `Gnumeric` cannot save directly as a PDF file; but, provided a standard tetex installation is available, the `Gnumeric` file can be saved as a `LaTeX` file (see the Section called `LaTeX` 2e Format), and turned into a PDF file using pdflatex.

See Figure 8 in the Section called `LaTeX` 2e Format for an example of a created PDF file.

## SC/XSpread Format

This format is supported by the "SC/XSpread Format" plug-in.

| This format is only available when importing files.

## Text Format

This format exports `Gnumeric` spreadsheets as straight text or imports them from straight text files. Both export (save as) as well as import can be highly customized.

### The Text Export Druid

After specifying the "`Text File Export`" Format and a file name in the "`Save as..`" dialog, the text export druid starts to guide you through the various options:

1. Specify which sheets to export.

   Figure 9. Specifying which sheets to export

2. Choose the line terminator to use. You should select it based on the platform you want the created file to be used on. Choose one of several field separators and whether to quote all fields or only as needed. The defaults create the standard Unix csv format.

   Figure 10. Specifying line terminators

3. Select "Finish" to finally export the selected sheets and create the text file. The standard csv output of Figure 3 in the Section called DVI TeX Format is shown in Figure 11.

       ,"Operating System",,,
       ,DOS,Linux,SCO,
       January,"$1000.00 ","$900.00 ","$500.00 ",
       February,"$900.00 ","$2500.00 ","$300.00 ",
       March,"$800.00 ","$4100.00 ","$100.00 ",
       April,"$700.00 ","$5700.00 ",($100.00),
       May,"$600.00 ","$7300.00 ",($300.00),
       June,"$500.00 ","$8900.00 ",($500.00),
       July,"$400.00 ","$10500.00 ",($700.00),
       August,"$300.00 ","$12100.00 ",($900.00),
       September,"$200.00 ","$13700.00 ",($1100.00),
       October,"$100.00 ","$15300.00 ",($1300.00),
       November,"$0.00 ","$16900.00 ",($1500.00),
       December,($100.00),"$18500.00 ",($1700.00),
       ,,,,
       Totals:,"$5400.00 ","$116400.00 ",($7200.00),
       ,,,,

   Figure 11. csv File

### The Text Import Druid

After specifying the "`Text File Import`" Format and a file name in the "`Import..`" dialog, the text import druid starts to guide you through the various options.

On the first screen of the druid specify the basic format type (fixed width fields or fields separated by specific characters), as well as the line numbers of the lines to import.

Figure 12. Selecting the basic format type

#### The Text Import Druid for Separated Fields

1. Figure 13. Separation Customization

   Select the appropriate field separator(s) in the "`Separator`" frame. Select the "`See two separators as one`"option if any sequence of separators are supposed to be considered a single separator. The "`Example`" frame gives immediate feedback on your choices:

   Figure 14. Separation Customization With Correct Selection

2. Finally select the appropriate format for each input column:

   Figure 15. Selecting Formats

   After selecting a column on the left select the appropriate format on the right. In the preview section at the bottom of the dialog, you can immediately see the effect of selecting that format. The following types of formats are available:

   General

     This format will guess for each field value whether it is text, a number, a date, etc.

   Numbers

     You can choose between various number formats. The following list presents just a short selection of those formats:

         0
         0.00
         #,##0
         #,##0_);(#,##0)
         #,##0.00_);[Red](#,##0.00)

     Figure 16. Some Number Formats

     There are also formats facilitating the use of scientific notation, see Figure 21.

   Currency Amounts

     You can choose between various currency formats. The following list presents just a short selection of those formats:

         "$"#,##0
         "$"#,##0_);(#,##0)
         "$"#,##0.00_);[Red](#,##0.00)

     Figure 17. Some Currency Formats

   Dates and Times

     You can choose between various date and time formats. Some of these formats will recognize combined date/time entries. The following list presents just a short selection of those formats:

         m/d/yy
         d-mmm-yyyy
         d-mm
         mmm/d
         mmm/ddd/yyyy
         mmmm-yyyy
         m/d/yyyy h:mm
         yyyy
         h:mm:ss AM/PM
         [h]:mm:ss

     Figure 18. Some Date and Time Formats

   Percentages

     You can choose between various formats that recognize percentages. The following list presents just a short selection of those formats:

         0%
         0.00%

     Figure 19. Some Percentage Formats

   Fractions

     You can choose between a few formats that recognize fractions. The following list presents just a short selection of those formats:

         # ?/?
         # ??/??

     Figure 20. Some Fraction Formats

   Scientific Notation

     You can choose between a few formats that recognize numbers in scientific notation.. The following list presents just a short selection of those formats:

         0.00E+00
         ##0.0E+0

     Figure 21. Some Scientific Formats

   Text

     If you want the importer to simply read the field value as text without attempting to interpret it in any way, use the following text format:

         @

     Figure 22. The Text Format

   More details on the various formats can be found in the Section called Format Cells Dialog in the chapter called Cell Formatting.

3. Click the "Finish" button to complete importing the file.

#### The Text Import Druid for Fixed Width Fields

1. If you selected fixed width fields you are asked to specify the widths for each field. Click the "Auto Column Discovery" button to have `Gnumeric` try to determine the fields widths automatically.

   Figure 23.

2. Finally select the appropriate format for each input column as in Figure 15 in the Section called The Text Import Druid for Separated Fields.

3. Click the "Finish" button to complete importing the file.

## TROFF Format

This format is supported by the "HTML & TeX" plug-in.

| This format is only available when saving files.

Files in this format are useful because they can be converted with the groff or troff commands into various other common formats. For example, given a TROFF file `myfile.me`, the command

      groff -me -t -Tps myfile.me >myfile.ps

will create a postscript file of the corresponding table.

Similarly, the command

    groff -me -t -Tascii myfile.me >myfile.ascii

creates an ascii (straight text) file.

Example 6. Creating an ASCII File

If we save Figure 3 in the Section called DVI TeX Format as a troff file `hypothetical-sales.me` and then execute the command

    groff -me -t -Tascii hypothetical-sales.me >hypothetical-sales.ascii

then the file `hypothetical-sales.ascii` contains:

    Sheet 0

    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |          | Operating System |             |            |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |          |       DOS        |    Linux    |    SCO     |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |  January | $1000.00         | $900.00     | $500.00    |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    | February | $900.00          | $2500.00    | $300.00    |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |    March | $800.00          | $4100.00    | $100.00    |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |    April | $700.00          | $5700.00    | ($100.00)  |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |      May | $600.00          | $7300.00    | ($300.00)  |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |     June | $500.00          | $8900.00    | ($500.00)  |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |     July | $400.00          | $10500.00   | ($700.00)  |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |   August | $300.00          | $12100.00   | ($900.00)  |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |September | $200.00          | $13700.00   | ($1100.00) |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |  October | $100.00          | $15300.00   | ($1300.00) |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    | November | $0.00            | $16900.00   | ($1500.00) |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    | December | ($100.00)        | $18500.00   | ($1700.00) |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |          |                  |             |            |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |  Totals: | $5400.00         | $116400.00  | ($7200.00) |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+
    |          |                  |             |            |   |
    +----------+------------------+-------------+------------+---+

                                  1

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