Which of the following is the file extension of MS Excel?

Appeared in: NIA - 29 January 2023

Explanation

The file extension .xlsx is the default format for Microsoft Excel workbooks starting from Excel 2007.
The 'x' in .xlsx indicates that the file is an Office Open XML file, which is a zip-compressed archive containing XML-based files.
This format is more efficient and less prone to corruption compared to the older .xls binary format.

Option B: .els is not a valid or standard file extension for Microsoft Excel. It is an incorrect distractor.
Option C: .exl is not a valid file extension for Microsoft Excel. It is a common distractor created by transposing letters from 'Excel'.
Option D: .exis is not a valid file extension associated with Microsoft Excel or any other common spreadsheet program.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain File extensions for Microsoft Excel as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Basic computer literacy, including understanding file types, is essential for modern nursing practice.
Nurses frequently use spreadsheet software like Excel for non-clinical tasks such as creating staff schedules, managing inventory of medical supplies, and tracking educational materials.
Knowing the difference between file types like .xlsx and .csv is important. Saving a formatted schedule as a .csv file would cause it to lose all its visual organization and formulas, potentially leading to confusion.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing basic computer knowledge.
First, identify the keywords in the question: 'file extension' and 'MS Excel'.
Recall the standard file formats associated with Microsoft Office products.
The most common and current extension for Excel is .xlsx. Evaluate the given options against this knowledge.
Eliminate the distractors (.els, .exl, .exis) which are designed to look similar to the correct answer or the application name but are incorrect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 NursingResearch Suresh Sharma 5e Part 2 p. 63-65

E6 NursingResearch Sukhpal Kaur p. 344-346

Practise the full NIA - 29 January 2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.