Forum Discussion
List of missing features in Excel Online
In theory Microsoft 365 Roadmap | Microsoft 365 , but not all functionality is mentioned here. Unfortunately there is no such source, that's different forums, twitter, etc. Word of mouth.
Differences between using a workbook in the browser and in Excel
Excel for the web looks a lot like the Excel desktop app. However, there are some differences to be aware of. For example, not all file formats are supported, and some features may work differently than the desktop app. This article explains these differences.
In the End Please don't forget, Excel Online is FREE while it's traditional version costs about $ 129 for you to install it to your workstation. Excel Online is basically Microsoft's answer to Google Sheets.
So if you're familiar with how Google Sheets works, that's basically what Excel Online is: a free web-based platform.
I would be happy to know if I could help with this information.
Nikolino
I know I don't know anything (Socrates)
Thanks. I have found a few resources like that, but most of them (that one included) talk more about similarities than specifically what is missing. I really wanted something that says "If you need this capability, don't bother trying to use Excel online". Macros, links to other spreadsheets, named ranges, and protection are critical, for instance. All features that Excel desktop and Google Sheets provide, by the way.
Google Sheets was pretty limited in the early days, but has gotten much more capable. I expected Excel online to be even better - comparable to Excel desktop. Instead, it appears to lack a great many core features that are necessary for any serious application. I'm hoping that Microsoft continues to develop it, and the list of missing features gets shorter. For now, as far as I can tell, Google Sheets far surpasses Excel online for any serious spreadsheet work.
You probably mean such a comparison. Click on the heading to continue.
Office for the web service description
Office for the web (formerly Office Web Apps) opens Word, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint documents in your web browser. Office for the web makes it easier to work and share Office files from anywhere with an internet connection, from almost any device. Microsoft 365 customers with Word, Excel, OneNote, or PowerPoint can view, create, and edit files on the go.
I had actually found that. It's really misleading, though:
- It's interesting that they list macro support as 'Yes' with a footnote that says 'Can't create, run, or edit macros'. I'm thinking that should be 'No' with a footnote that says 'Won't damage macros'.
- It says that sheet protection is supported, but as far as I can tell it's not.
- It says 'Yes' next to named ranges with no footnote reference. It doesn't mention that you can't create or edit them unless you click through to the explanation of what 'Named Ranges' means.
- It doesn't mention lack of notes, text orientation, or ability to edit conditional formatting rules.
Forgive me for venting a bit here, but I wasted a lot of time and embarrassed myself with a client based on the mistaken idea that Excel for the web was much closer to Excel desktop (or Google Sheets) than it actually is. A list of 50 features that are the same is not as useful as a list of 5 features that are missing. It may be good for some applications, but it should be easier to determine what it's *not* well suited for, especially since it carries the name 'Excel'.
Ultimately, it depends on the eye of the beholder.
It may well be better for a salesperson to know what Excel for web cannot do in order to illustrate the benefits of another product.
It may sound better if the Excel for web user knows in advance, what the software can’t do. Nevertheless, what use is it? ... if most of the users are beginners.
However, showing what is possible is always better in the long term.
Remember Excel for Web (or Office for web) is actually an entry-level software in the Microsoft world, at the same time this software is "free". So showing what it can do is always better because more users will use Excel for web with it. Excel for web does not compete with any of the other Microsoft products, Excel for web competes with other competing software like LibreOffice, GoogleSheets, OpenOffice, etc.
If the user knows that Excel for web can cope with tasks like other competing products, so knows what it can do and not what it can't do. At the same time, he also has the opportunity (which competing products cannot do so well or not at all), if he wants to expand the software with more options, simply with a subscription.
This will make choosing Excel for web a lot easier than any other competing product.
Of course, all of this is just my humble opinion.
Thank you for taking the time to read my opinion so far.
Nikolino