ODS (.ods)
- Import fully supports the ODS standard.
 
Background & Context
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- MIME type: application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet
 - OpenDocument spreadsheet file.
 - Used for storage and exchange of spreadsheet data and formulas.
 - Is part of the OASIS Open Document Format (ODF) family of file formats.
 - ODS is an acronym derived from OpenDocument Spreadsheet.
 
- Native spreadsheet format of OpenOffice.org 2.0.
 - XML-based format, usually ZIP-compressed.
 - Supports multiple sheets in one file.
 - Developed by the OASIS industry consortium, based upon the OpenOffice.org SXC format.
 - Approved as ISO/IEC 26300 standard in 2006.
 
 
Import
   - Import["file.ods"] imports all sheets of an ODS file, returning the result as a list of arrays.
 - Import["file.ods"] returns the sheets of an ODS file as an expression of the form {s1, s2, …}, where the si are full arrays containing numerical and textual data, Boolean values, and date specifications.
 - Import["file.ods",elem] imports the specified element from an ODS file.
 - Import["file.ods",{elem,suba,subb,…}] imports a subelement.
 - Import["file.ods",{{elem1,elem2,…}}] imports multiple elements.
 - The import format can be specified with Import["file","ODS"] or Import["file",{"ODS",elem,…}].
 - See the following reference pages for full general information:
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Import import from a file CloudImport import from a cloud object ImportString import from a string ImportByteArray import from a byte array  
Import Elements
    
   - General Import elements:
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"Elements" list of elements and options available in this file "Summary" summary of the file "Rules" list of rules for all available elements  - Basic information element:
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"Dimensions" association of sheet names and sheet dimensions "SheetCount" number of sheets "Sheets" list of sheet names  - Data representation elements:
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"Data" list of full arrays, representing all sheets "Formulas" all ODS formulas as text "Tabular" list of Tabular objects, representing all sheets "TabularAssociation" association of sheet names and Tabular objects  - Import by default uses the "Data" element.
 - ODS data is represented in the Wolfram Language by real or integer numbers, strings, Boolean values True and False, and DateList specifications.
 - ODS error cells are imported as $Failed.
 - Import["file.ods","Formulas"] gives spreadsheet formulas for each cell in the form {f1,f2,…}, where the fi are arrays corresponding to the sheets of an ODS file.
 - Importing parts of a data sheet:
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"Data",k the k 
 sheet, given as an array"Data",k,m row m of the k 
 sheet"Data",k,m,n cell {m,n} of the k 
 sheet - Import["file.ods",{"Data",1}] returns the first sheet as an array.
 - The following can be used to select or specify individual sheets by name:
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"Sheets",name sheet name as an array "Sheets",name,m row m of sheet name "Sheets",name,m,n cell {m,n} in sheet name  - Import["file.ods",{"Sheets",All}] is equivalent to Import["file.ods","Data"].
 - Import yields spreadsheets as full rectangular arrays.
 
Related Guides
History
Introduced in 2007 (6.0) | Updated in 2025 (14.2) ▪ 2025 (14.3)