Are you ever curious to know who is behind the Excel files you are working with on your Mac? Whether you are in a collaborative work environment or just want to track the document's origin for better management, Excel provides some straightforward methods to find this information. In this detailed guide, we will walk through the different ways to discover the author of your Excel spreadsheets on macOS.
Using Excel’s Built-in Features
Excel includes several features that can help reveal who created or last modified a file:
1. File Properties
- Open the Excel File you want to check.
- Go to the File menu and click on Properties (or press Command + I).
- In the General tab, you might find the Author field filled if someone specified it when saving.
- The Summary tab can also show more details like Authors, Last Modified By, and the Company.
2. Document Inspector
- Open the workbook in Excel.
- Navigate to the File menu, then click Check for Issues, and finally Inspect Document.
- In the Document Inspector, you can check for Document Properties and Personal Information, which will display the author’s name if it’s embedded in the document.
🔍 Note: This feature removes personal information, so be careful if you need to retain it.
Exploring Metadata through Finder
MacOS has a built-in tool that can display metadata for files:
1. Show Info Window
- Select the Excel file in Finder.
- Press Command + I or right-click and select Get Info.
- The info window shows details like Author and Last Modified By under the ‘General’ section.
2. Spotlight Search
- Open a new Finder window or click on the Spotlight icon in the top-right corner of your screen.
- Type the author’s name in the search box.
- If metadata includes the author’s name, Spotlight will find related files quickly.
Using Third-Party Applications
Sometimes built-in tools might not suffice, and third-party applications can provide more detailed or different views:
1. ExifTool
ExifTool is a powerful command-line utility for reading, writing, and manipulating file metadata:
- Install ExifTool from its official site or use a package manager like Homebrew.
- Open Terminal and type:
exiftool /path/to/your/excel_file.xlsx
The output will include author information along with other metadata.
2. GraphOn Excel Viewer
- This app, although not a traditional third-party app, is free and designed for reading Excel files, including metadata details.
- After downloading and installing, drag and drop your Excel file onto the app to view file properties.
| Application | Functionality |
|---|---|
| ExifTool | Command-line utility for reading file metadata |
| GraphOn Excel Viewer | Excel file viewer with metadata details |
Manually Checking Author Information
If the metadata methods fail, there’s always a manual approach:
- Contact the Provider: If you received the file via email or a collaboration platform, simply ask the sender or collaborators for their name.
- Look for Embedded Comments: Sometimes, users might leave comments or track changes with their names, which can be a clue to the author's identity.
- Check File History: For work environments with shared drives, checking version history in the cloud storage or version control systems might reveal author information.
To wrap up, exploring the authorship of Excel spreadsheets on your Mac involves various methods from using Excel's in-built tools to examining system metadata or third-party applications. These methods not only provide insight into file origins but also enrich document management practices in collaborative settings. By leveraging these tools, you can better track, attribute, and manage your Excel documents, enhancing both productivity and accountability.
Why can’t I find the author of an Excel file?
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The author information might not be set or could be removed by someone during the file’s lifecycle. Also, some versions of Excel might not save this information by default.
Can I add my name to Excel’s author field?
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Yes, you can add or change the author name in Excel under File > Properties. Look for the Author field and fill it out.
Is it possible to remove personal information from Excel?
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Yes, Excel’s Document Inspector can help remove personal information like comments, annotations, and metadata, which includes the author’s name.
