How to open a .SLK file online
Three steps, a few seconds, no Excel.
Choose your .SLK file
Drag your .SLK file onto the box above, or click Choose file.
Supported
Your .SLK file is opened: every sheet, formula and merged range.
Browse, search, export
Switch sheets, click a cell to see its formula, search the whole sheet and export it as CSV or JSON.
What is a .SLK file?
Everything worth knowing about Symbolic Link (SYLK) Spreadsheet File files.
An SLK file is a SYLK (Symbolic Link) spreadsheet, a plain-text format Microsoft created for Multiplan in the early 1980s to move cell data, formulas, and basic formatting between programs. Open it in Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets, then save it as .xlsx. Do not open SLK files from unknown senders; the format has been used to deliver malware.
Programs that open .SLK files
| Full name | Symbolic Link (SYLK) Spreadsheet File |
|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft |
| First released | 1980s (Microsoft Multiplan; widely used by early Excel for data interchange) |
| Category | Documents |
| MIME type | text/spreadsheet |
| Signature | 49 44 3B ("ID;" - every SYLK file begins with an "ID;" record on the first line) |
Related viewers
Other free viewers for related formats.
Is my .SLK file uploaded anywhere?
No. Your .SLK file is opened for you.
Are formulas recalculated?
The viewer shows the values Excel or LibreOffice saved in the file, plus the formula behind each cell when you click it. It doesn't recalculate, so what you see is exactly what the author saw when saving.
Can I open a password-protected .SLK file?
Not yet. Files encrypted with a password to open are detected and reported; sheets that are only "protected against editing" open normally.
Why doesn't my chart or image show?
This viewer focuses on cell data: values, formulas, merged cells and fill colours. Charts, images and pivot table layouts are not drawn yet.
How big a file can I open?
Up to 50 MB. Large sheets are shown 500 rows at a time so your browser stays fast. Search still covers every row.
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