IBM Support

"The file you are trying to open ... different format than specified by the file extension" when running Standard Reports to XLS format, using Excel 2007 (or later)

Troubleshooting


Problem

User runs any Controller standard report (system report). By default this appears in HTML format. User changes output format to "XLS". A dialogue box appears. User has to click "Yes" to open the report in Excel.
Similar messages are seen if doing a similar thing with a Cognos Analytics (or Cognos BI) report (when run outside of the Controller GUI).

Symptom

The exact error will vary, depending on the version of Excel installed on the client device:

Excel 2007
  • Microsoft Office Excel
    The file you are trying to open, 'New+Report[1].xls', is in a different format than specified by the file extension. Verify that the file is not corrupted and is from a trusted source before opening the file. Do you want to open the file now?
    [Yes] [No]

Excel 2010
  • Microsoft Excel
    The file format and extension of 'New+Report[1].xls' don't match. The file could be corrupted or unsafe. Unless you trust its source, don't open it. Do you want to open it anyway?
    [Yes] [No]

Excel 2013:

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Product":{"code":"SS9S6B","label":"IBM Cognos Controller"},"Component":"Controller","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"All Versions","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB76","label":"Data Platform"}},{"Product":{"code":"SSEP7J","label":"Cognos Business Intelligence"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Component":"Query Studio","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"10.1","Edition":"Edition Independent","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB76","label":"Data Platform"}},{"Product":{"code":"SSMRTZ","label":"IBM Cognos Controller on Cloud"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Component":" ","Platform":[{"code":"","label":""}],"Version":"","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB76","label":"Data Platform"}},{"Product":{"code":"SS6G84","label":"IBM Cognos Analytics on Cloud"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Component":" ","Platform":[{"code":"","label":""}],"Version":"","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB76","label":"Data Platform"}}]

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Document Information

Modified date:
08 May 2025

UID

swg21592465

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