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Preparing Excel Files for Use with Codcel

To ensure smooth code generation, follow these guidelines when preparing your .xlsx files.

What Should Be in the File

  • Named sheets (no duplicates)
  • Standard Excel formatting
  • UTF-8 compatible characters

What Should NOT Be in the File

Codcel does not support or may hang/crash on:

Feature Problem
Chartsheets Unsupported format
Embedded objects (e.g. images) May lead to unexpected behavior
External links Can create infinite lookups
Hidden sheets with formulas Sometimes parsed, sometimes skipped
Printer settings (.bin) Unnecessary and can confuse parser
Comments and VML drawings Not parsed, may slow down reading
Custom XML mappings Ignored and can bulk up file size
Large calcChain.xml files Can create infinite loops or hangs

How to Clean Your Excel File

Go to: 

Data > Queries & Connections > Edit Links > Break Links

2. Save a Clean Copy

In Excel: 

File > Save As > .xlsx (choose a new filename)
This rewrites the internal structure and strips unused junk.

3. Remove Comments and Drawings

  • In Excel: Review > Delete All Comments
  • Manually: unzip .xlsx and delete xl/comments*.xml and xl/drawings/

4. Remove Hidden Sheets

  • Right-click sheet tabs > Unhide > Delete unnecessary sheets

5. Optional: Use LibreOffice

LibreOffice tends to save cleaner .xlsx files with less legacy clutter.

By following these steps, you can ensure your Excel files work seamlessly with Codcel.

Next: Learn how to annotate your inputs, outputs, and tables in the Annotations guide.