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Microsoft 365: Excel Differences in Functionality

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Several functions with Excel for the Web perform differently than they do in the Excel desktop app. 

Excel – Viewing and Printing

Charts and Tables, including PivotChart reports and PivotTable reports

Charts, tables, PivotChart reports, and PivotTable reports are shown in a browser window like 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

External Data connections are not generally supported, as MS365 resides in the cloud and does not have access to other data sources. 

External references

The last known value for an external reference will be displayed in a browser window. External references must be updated using Excel desktop app. 

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. 

Excel – Opening and Saving

Controls

Controls, such as ActiveX controls and form toolbar controls, prevent a workbook from being viewed in a browser window. 

Data Connections

Microsoft 365 Excel resides in the cloud and cannot access external data resources. 

Data Validation

Data validation works the same except that Input Method Editor (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. 

Functions

Some kinds of functions can behave differently in a browser window than they do in Excel.  

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. 

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

IRM cannot be applied in the browser. 

Undo and Redo

When a workbook is edited by more than one person at a time, the Undo and Redo commands are not available in a browser window as soon as another user makes a change. 

Worksheet protection or workbook protection

Workbooks that are protected (encrypted with password protection) cannot be viewed in a browser window. 

Protected worksheets (not entire workbooks) can be viewed in a browser window in Excel Online. 

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

XML

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

Excel – Functions

CHAR

Excel Online:  Returns a character specified by a number. For non-printing characters, returns blank values. 
Excel desktop:  Returns a character specified by a number. For non-printing characters, returns a block character. 

HYPERLINK

Excel Online:  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. 

Excel desktop:  Returns an active link that you can click and follow. 

INFO

Excel Online:  Returns a #VALUE! error. 

Excel desktop:  Returns the path of the current directory, or folder on the computer. 

NOW

Excel Online:  Returns the date and time on the server. 

Excel for desktop:  Returns the date and time on your computer. 

RAND and RANDBETWEEN

Excel Online:  Returns a random number each time it is used. 

Excel for desktop:  Returns a random number each time it is used. 

RTD (real-time data)

Excel Online: 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. 

Excel for desktop:  Returns real-time data from a program that supports COM automation. 

TODAY

Excel Online:  Returns the date on the server. 

Excel for desktop:  Returns the date on your computer. 

 

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