Opening Existing Files

Spread can open XML files or stream objects that were created by Spread, as well as text and Excel files. Text files must use delimiters that Spread can process to place data into the appropriate cells. Spread provides methods for opening several file types. Consult the following topics for instructions and more information regarding saving to a file.

Opening a Spread XML File - for opening a Spread XML file or stream for an entire spreadsheet.
Opening an Excel File - for opening an Excel-formatted file and comma-delimited file.
Opening a Spread COM File - for opening a file from the COM version of Spread (Spread 7.0 or later).
Opening a Custom Text File - for opening a custom text file.

If you open or load a file or Stream object that contains more rows or columns than the sheet or sheets into which you are opening the file or stream, the component adds rows or columns as needed to the sheet or sheets. If you open or load a file or Stream object with fewer rows or columns than the sheet or sheets into which you are opening the file or stream, the component opens the file and loads the data, and does not remove the additional rows or columns in the sheet or sheets.

Opening existing files using Spread Designer places the data from the file into the design string used to create the component. Longer design strings negatively impact responsiveness, including making page loads slower and increasing response time to editing. Keep this in mind when using Spread Designer to open and load files.