Differences between using a workbook in the browser and in Excel

Calculations

Calculations and calculation settings, including automatic, manual, and iterative calculation settings for ranges or worksheets work in a browser window similar to how they do in Excel.

Cells

Cells, including cell values, merged cells, and cell content overview, are displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel.

Charts and tables, including PivotChart reports and PivotTable reports

In general, charts, tables, PivotChart reports, and PivotTable reports are displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel. Exceptions include

• Charts that are part of a group of charts

• Charts that rely on external references

• Charts that use certain kinds of data sources that are not supported for workbooks viewed in a browser window

If you are using Excel Services or Excel Web App on premises (not in the cloud), the ability to display certain content in a browser window depends on whether Excel Services or Excel Web App is used to display a workbook.

Data connections

Depending on how your environment is configured, some kinds of data connections are supported for workbooks displayed in a browser window, which enables you to refresh data. For more information, see Refreshing data in a workbook in a browser window.

Dates

Dates that are displayed in a browser window resemble how they're displayed in Excel.

External References

In general, the external references in a browser window will work like Excel. They can be updated from the browser window.

Fields list for a PivotChart report or a PivotTable report

In general, the Fields List for a PivotChart report or a PivotTable report works in a browser window similar to how it works in Excel. This means that people can use the Fields List to explore information and change the data that is displayed in a PivotChart report or PivotTable report.

Filters, slicers, and timeline controls

Filters and slicers generally work in a browser window similar to how they work in Excel. In general, timeline controls work in a browser window similar to how they work in Excel.

If you are using Excel Services or Excel Web App on premises (not in the cloud), the ability to display certain content in a browser window depends on whether Excel Services or Excel Web App is used to display a workbook.

Formatting

Cell and cell-range formatting and number formats display in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel.

Functions

Most Excel functions work in a browser window as they do in Excel. Exceptions are listed in the Workbook functions section of this article.

Line borders

Most, but not all, line borders are displayed in a browser window as they are displayed in Excel. Line colors, continuous- and double-line styles, solid and dashed lines, and lines using thin, medium, and thick line weights are supported.

Named items

Named items, such as ranges, tables, charts, PivotChart reports, PivotTable reports, slicers, and timeline controls are generally displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel.

If you are using Excel Services or Excel Web App on premises (not in the cloud), the ability to display certain content in a browser window depends on whether Excel Services or Excel Web App is used to display a workbook.

Sparklines

Sparklines display in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel.

Tables

Excel tables, including data, column headers, and total rows are displayed in a browser window similar to how they are displayed in Excel.

Controls

Workbooks with controls, such as ActiveX controls and form toolbar controls, can be viewed or edited in the browser window. The controls themselves are not shown on the grid.

Data connections

Depending on how your environment is configured, some kinds of data connections can prevent a workbook from being displayed in a browser window. For more information, see Refreshing data in a workbook in a browser window.

Data validation

Data validation works the same except that IME mode is not supported in Excel for the web.

Digital signatures

Workbooks that use visible or invisible digital signatures cannot be viewed in a browser window.

Fonts

Fonts are usually displayed using the same style and size in a browser as they are displayed in Excel. If a workbook uses a specific font that is not available on your device, then another font might be substituted when a workbook is displayed in a browser window.

Functions

Some kinds of functions can behave differently in a browser window than they do in Excel. For more information, see the Functions section later in this article.

Legacy macro languages

Workbooks that contain legacy macro features, such as Microsoft Excel 4.0 Macro Functions and Microsoft 5.0 dialog sheets cannot be displayed in a browser window.

Save

When you or other people edit a workbook in a browser window, changes are saved automatically.

Security and privacy

Workbooks that have Information Rights Management (IRM) settings applied at the workbook level cannot be viewed in a browser window.

If your organization is using Excel Web App (on premises) or Excel for the web (in the cloud) to display workbooks, then workbooks that are saved in IRM-protected document libraries are supported and can be displayed in a browser window.

Workbooks that are sent as IRM-protected attachments in Outlook Web App are also supported and can be displayed in a browser window.

However, if your organization is using Excel Services in SharePoint Server (on premises) to display workbooks, workbooks in IRM-protected libraries are not supported, and must be opened in Excel.

IRM cannot be applied in the browser.

Worksheet protection or workbook protection

Workbooks which are protected (encrypted with password protection) can be viewed and edited in Excel for the web.

Worksheets which are protected can only be viewed in Excel for the web.

In on-premises environments where you're using Excel Services or Excel Web App, protected worksheets cannot be viewed in a browser window.

To remove protection, open the workbook in Excel on the desktop.

XML

XML maps, XML embedded smart tags, and XML expansion packs prevent a workbook from being viewed in a browser window.

CHAR

Returns a character specified by a number. For non-printing characters, returns a block character.

Returns a character specified by a number. For non-printing characters, returns blank values.

HYPERLINK

Returns an active link that you can click and follow

Depending on the Workbook Interactivity and Workbook Navigation settings that are specified for a workbook, the HYPERLINK function can return an active link or an inactive link text string.

INFO

Returns the path of the current directory or folder on the computer.

Returns a #VALUE! error.

NOW

Returns the date and time on your computer

Returns the date and time on the server

RTD (real-time data)

Returns real-time data from a program that supports COM automation.

If values that have been returned by an RTD function are stored in a workbook, those values are displayed. If no values are stored in the workbook, a #N/A error is returned.

TODAY

Returns the date on your computer

Returns the date on the server