Files with the ODS extension can be associated with a number of different programs which include OpenOffice, NCompass Labs software, or Microsoft Outlook Express. The contents of an ODS file will be relevant to the type of program which created the file.
If an ODS file is related to OpenOffice, it will contain data and information associated with the Calc spreadsheet application included in the OpenOffice suite. In this case, the contents of an ODS file will contain cell data, data and spreadsheet structure, formulas, charts, queries, and other information which is typically used for a spreadsheet application.
If the ODS file is created by NCompass Labs software, the file will contain data related to Internet scripts for Microsoft applications. Script files typically contain source codes related to a specific programming language which is compiled into a binary executable format. The source code is used to express programmed actions for PC applications.
If the ODS file is related to Microsoft Outlook Express, the file will contain information related to saved email messages and the news client portion of Outlook Express. In this regard, ODS files are the earlier form of DBX files and were used for saving email messages in Microsoft Outlook 5. Outlook Express is an email client included with earlier versions of Internet Explorer.
How to Open ODS Files
Since ODS files are associated with a variety of different programs, you may be able to save time by double clicking on them to see if they open in a default program. If you found the ODS file on your PC, chances are you may have the appropriate program installed that will allow you to open it.
If the ODS file is a spreadsheet file, you can open and view it using OpenOffice, which is available as a free download from OpenOffice.org. You can also open the ODS file using any spreadsheet program that is compatible with your operating system. Once you have opened the file, you can save it to another spreadsheet format such as XLS if you prefer.
If the ODS file is a script file created by NCompass, you can open and edit it using any text editor program, such as Notepad or WordPad for Windows, Apple TextEdit for Mac, or gEdit for Linux. IDS script files are source code files, which means they are created in human readable text. However, if you open the file using a text editing program, you must be able to understand programming code in order to understand the contents of the ODS file.
If the ODS file is created with Microsoft Outlook Express, you can open it using this program or choose to convert it to another format which can be read by a variety of applications. You can find a number of file conversion programs as a free download on websites such as CNET or Softpedia.
