Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2017 June 25

= June 25 =

Convert:.xls sheet → image
What's the easiest way to save a .xls file as an image? I'd like to use it a .xls file as a 1920x1080 wallpaper. I'm using Microsoft Excel 2016 on Windows 7. --Daniel Carrero (talk) 14:01, 25 June 2017 (UTC)


 * On Windows try a screen grab (PRINT-SCREEN) then do an Edit + Paste in MS Paint and trim off the borders. This means it won't quite be the max res of your screen.  If you can set the max res above 1920×1080 for the screen grab, this could solve that issue.  Once you have your image, save it in an image format and select that as the Windows background (do you know how to do that ?). StuRat (talk) 14:07, 25 June 2017 (UTC)


 * BTW, you wouldn't be an accountant, would you ? :-) StuRat (talk) 14:12, 25 June 2017 (UTC)
 * Thank you. I'm not an accountant. I'm trying to learn Japanese as my 3rd language. My .xls file is some kanji to remember. Portuguese is my 1st language, English is my 2nd. :) Daniel Carrero (talk) 10:48, 26 June 2017 (UTC)


 * If you want a high resolution image, you can "print" the spreadsheet as a PDF. Most graphics editors (such as GIMP) will import PDF and convert it to a graphic. You can then edit/resize/crop the image as you like and save it in the format that you like, such as jpg or png. This is not limited to Excel. Most programs allow you to save a PDF version of what you see. I use often for web pages. I can save the web page to PDF and then create a graphic of the page. Using the screenshot method, I will be limited to what fits inside the web browser's window. Of course, most will claim that the screenshot method is easier, but I see both as a four-step process. Step one: Save as a PDF or try to remember the hot-key combination for screenshot. Step two: Open the PDF in your graphic editor or paste the clipboard into your graphic editor. Step three: Edit the image as necessary. Step four: Save the image in the format you need. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 15:38, 26 June 2017 (UTC)


 * Don't forget step 5: selecting the image as your wallpaper. And there's not much of a hot-key to recall, there's an actual PRINT SCREEN key, typically right above the INSERT key, at least with a full keyboard (laptops might be different).  One thing to beware of with the "save as PDF" option is it's often part of the Print menu, and saves it formatted for printing, so broken up into pages, with page numbers and headers and footers added, etc.  It's easy enough to trim off the headers and footers, but pasting multiple pages into one will take a bit more work.  StuRat (talk) 15:51, 26 June 2017 (UTC)


 * You would be amazed how often I'm asked how to make a screenshot. Mentioning GIMP above relates to an anecdote. One of our server admins claims that the best way to take a screenshot is to open GIMP, select "Create from Screenshot", set up the dialog, and then click on the screen or drag a clip window. I just nod and go back to my cubicle by the break room. There, I mostly get questions about how to work the microwave, as well as the common: What's that thing you showed me where people ask questions and you can answer them? 209.149.113.5 (talk) 16:35, 26 June 2017 (UTC)


 * One other comment, if you can't get the full res you want, I suggest you pick the padding option when setting it as wallpaper, as stretching it may distort the image. StuRat (talk) 16:14, 26 June 2017 (UTC)