How to open a .DIF file online
Three steps, a few seconds, no Excel.
Choose your .DIF file
Drag your .DIF file onto the box above, or click Choose file.
Supported
Your .DIF 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 .DIF file?
Everything worth knowing about Data Interchange Format (spreadsheet) files.
A DIF file is a Data Interchange Format spreadsheet, a plain-text format created in 1981 to move a single sheet of rows and columns between programs. Open it in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets and it loads as a normal grid. DIF stores only cell values, with no formatting, formulas, or multiple sheets, so converting to CSV or XLSX is usually the next step.
Programs that open .DIF files
| Full name | Data Interchange Format (spreadsheet) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Software Arts (creators of VisiCalc); later an open de facto interchange format |
| First released | 1981 (created by Software Arts for VisiCalc to exchange single-sheet data) |
| Category | Documents |
| MIME type | text/plain |
Related viewers
Other free viewers for related formats.
Is my .DIF file uploaded anywhere?
No. Your .DIF 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 .DIF 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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