Microsoft Excel is one of the premier spreadsheet software packages available. It allows users to organize, sort, and perform mathematical calculations of data. It is commonly used by business professionals to present accounting and management information.

Distributing the information can pose a problem if Microsoft Excel is not installed on the end users computer. While Excel is commonly installed on many business computers it is not universal and is not always installed on home computers.

Microsoft Excel Viewer, a free download from Microsoft, allows users without the full version of Excel to display and print spreadsheets created by other users. Users can also use the Windows copy and paste function to transfer the data to other software packages.

Limitations of Microsoft Excel Viewer prohibit the user from modifying or creating a spreadsheet. As the name implies, the software is designed for users to view data prepared by others.

Users who have an occasional need to view data prepared by others, but do not have any need to create or modify the data commonly use the software. Links to download the software are sometimes included with email distributions of spreadsheets. This facilitates easy installation for users without Microsoft Excel.

The software is distributed and supported by Microsoft. Updates usually occur on the same cycle as upgrades to the Microsoft Excel product. The software is licensed as freeware with use limited to viewing documents created by the Microsoft Office software. It is available for all current versions of Windows but not supported for the Apple operating systems.