> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.pentaho.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview/microsoft-excel-output/options-microsoft-excel-output.md).
# Options
The Microsoft Excel Output step has the following tabs and options:
| Option | Description |
| ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Step name** | Specify the unique name of the Microsoft Excel Output step on the canvas. You can customize the name or leave it as the default. |
| **Filename** | Specify the filename of the spreadsheet for this step to read. |
| **Create parent folder** | Select to create a parent folder. |
| **Do not create file at start** | Select to create the output file after completion of this step. This avoids the creation of empty files when no rows are in the data stream. |
| **Extension** | Specify a three-letter file extension to append to the created file name. |
| **Include stepnr in filename** | Select to add a copy number in the output file names before the extension. For example: nnnn\_0.ext |
| **Include date in file name** | Select to include the system date in the filename. For example: `_20101231` |
| **Include time in file name** | Select to include the system time in the filename. For example: `_235959` |
| **Specify Date time format** | Select to create a filename which includes a date and time stamp that follows the selection you choose from the enabled down-down list.
Selecting this option disables the Include date in filename option and the Include time in file name option.
|
| **Date time format** | Specify the chosen date and time format for the filename. This option requires **Specify Date time format** (above) to also be selected. |
| **Show file name(s) (button)** | Click to display a simulated list of the files this step will generate. The simulation depends on the number of rows that will go into each file. |
| **Add filenames to result** | Select to add the filenames to the internal filename result set. This internal result set can be later used to process all the created files. |
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