Excel file size automatically reduced twice

[excel_stuff]

Hi listers

I have had this problem twice that Excel files reduced to almost half the size. First time from 14MB to almost 8MB (both files in Excel 97-2003). The second time from 8MB to 2.6 MB (this time file saved as Microsoft Excel Macro-Enabled Worksheet instead of Excel 97-2003).

The numbers and figures dont appear to have changed. To check the cause of the problem, I borrowed a colleague's laptop which had Excel 2013 with Spreadsheet Compare tool. All it found was cell format change in terms of RGB combination. I am worried that I have lost some data although can't find any problems.

Your help will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Hui]

Celebrate
Don't worry

Newer versions of Excel have better file storage and compression systems

 

[excel_stuff]

Thanks Hui. That's very helpful. However, the first halving happened when both files were saved as 97-2003 version. Isn't that odd?

Thanks

 

[Hui]

Most people have the opposite problem of file sizes growing too big and needing to reduce them.

Has anybody deleted a row or Column that had accidentally been formatted to the end? or similar to Conditional Formatting ranges?

Had anybody opened the file in a newer version and then saved it in an older version, Excel may have reset the used ranges in that case

Has anyone deleted images or pictures stored within the file

Has anyone copied pastes a large range of Formulas with Values

Has the file been saved in a *.xlb format?

Even after all this, I wouldn't be worried !!!

 

[excel_stuff]

Thank you, Hui. This is very helpful. From your list, a potential cause may be:

"Had anybody opened the file in a newer version and then saved it in an older version, Excel may have reset the used ranges in that case"

Its interesting if Excel can potentially halve the size even if the file is saved in the same format after being opened in a new format. I didn't know this.

Thank you
Shehzad