# 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**    | <p>Select to create a filename which includes a date and time stamp that follows the selection you choose from the enabled down-down list.</p><p>Selecting this option disables the <strong>Include date in filename</strong> option and the <strong>Include time in file name</strong> option.</p> |
| **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.                                                                                                                                                       |