> 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/content-tab.md).

# Content tab

![Microsoft Excel Output Content tab](/files/FQ3SesldFOst7RMFUMWw)

The content tab has the following options:

| Option                        | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Append**                    | Select to append lines to the end of the specified file. If the file does not exist, a new one will be created.                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Header**                    | Select to display a header (defined in the **Custom** tab). The header will appear before the spreadsheet grid data.                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| **Footer**                    | Select to display a footer following the spreadsheet grid data.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Encoding**                  | <p>Specify the text file encoding to use:</p><ul><li>Specify UTF-8 or UTF-16 to use Unicode.</li><li>Leave this option blank to use the default encoding on your system.</li></ul><p>On first use, the PDI client searches your system for available encodings and populates this list accordingly.</p> |
| **Split every . . . rows**    | Specify a number of rows at which to split the file and start a new spreadsheet in which to continue data output.                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Sheet name**                | Specify the name of the worksheet within the spreadsheet file.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| **Protect sheet?**            | Select to password protect the worksheet. You must also specify a password in the **Password** field.                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| **Auto size columns**         | Select this option to automatically size the worksheet columns to the largest value.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| **Retain NULL values**        | <p>Select this option to preserve null values in the output.</p><p>If this option is not selected, nulls are replaced with empty strings.</p>                                                                                                                                                           |
| **Use temporary file**        | <p>Select to create a temporary file that will be used during the generation of the workbook.</p><p>If this option is not selected, the workbook is built entirely in memory.</p><p>Setting this option involves an assessment of the trade-offs between memory usage and performance.</p>              |
| **Temporary files directory** | Specify a temporary files directory.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| **Use Template**              | Select to use a specified Excel template to create the output file. If you select this option, you must also specify the template filename in the **Excel template** field.                                                                                                                             |
| **Excel Template**            | Specify the Excel template to be used.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| **Append to Excel Template**  | Select to append the output to the specified Excel template.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |


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