Convert Google Docs Spreadsheet to PDF or Excel: Benefits and How-To
It is very easy to convert a Google Sheets spreadsheet to PDF or Excel file format, and you may sometimes require this.
Why convert Google Sheets to PDF?
Read-only: PDF files are read-only, which can be useful for sharing documents that you don’t want to be edited.
Legal requirements: Some legal documents must be submitted in PDF format.
Cross-platform compatibility: PDF files can be opened on any operating system using a free PDF reader.
Why convert Google Sheets to Excel?
More features and customization: Microsoft Excel has a wider range of features and customization options than Google Sheets. It scores when it comes to charts and pivot tables.
Offline access: Excel is an offline program, so you can access and edit your spreadsheets even without an internet connection.
Speed: Excel is generally faster than Google Sheets, especially when working with large spreadsheets.
However, it is important to note that Google Sheets is a free and powerful spreadsheet application that meets the needs of most users. It offers a wide range of features, including charts, formulas, tables, conditional formatting, pivot tables, and sheet locking. It also has some unique features, such as Regex and Query, which can be very useful for certain tasks.
Further, we can’t ignore the Google Sheets collaboration feature. It allows multiple people to work on the same spreadsheet at the same time, chat with each other, and leave comments and suggestions for each other.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to convert Google Sheets to PDF or Excel depends on your specific needs. If you need to share a document in a read-only format, or if you need to comply with legal requirements, then converting to PDF is a good option. If you need to use features or customization options that are not available in Google Sheets, or if you need to access your spreadsheets offline, then converting to Excel is a better choice.
How to Convert Google Sheets to PDF
To convert a Google Sheets spreadsheet to PDF, follow these steps:
Open the Google Sheets spreadsheet you want to convert.
If you want to repeat the header row(s) on each page, follow these steps:
Click the View menu and select Freeze.
Click the row(s) you want to repeat on each page.
Click File > Download > PDF (.pdf).
In the Print settings dialog box, select the following options:
Export range: Click the drop-down under Export and select the sheets or ranges of cells you want to export.
Paper size: Select the paper size. The most common options are Letter and A4.
Orientation: Select Landscape or Portrait.
Margins: Set the margins for the PDF file.
Scale: Set the scale of the PDF file.
Click Export.
The PDF file will be downloaded to your computer.
How to Convert Google Sheets to Excel
To convert a Google Sheets spreadsheet to Excel, follow these steps:
Open the Google Sheets spreadsheet you want to convert.
Click File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx).
The file will be converted and downloaded to your computer.
Conclusion
If you want to let others convert your Google Sheets file to PDF or Excel, you need to share it with them. Here are the steps:
Open the Google Sheets file you want to share.
Click the Share button in the top right corner of the window.
Enter the email address of the person you want to share the spreadsheet with.
Select Viewer to give them viewer access.
Click Send.
The person you shared the spreadsheet with will receive an email with a link to the spreadsheet. They can click the link to open the spreadsheet in their browser.