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Not with VS Code’s built-in editor. You can add spreadsheet-style XLSX editing with an extension: the SheetLab Marketplace listing says it can open, edit, and save XLSX workbooks from VS Code. That is an extension feature, not a native VS Code capability, and its publisher’s claims are not independent preservation testing.

What “directly” means in VS Code

VS Code’s built-in editor does not provide an Excel-style spreadsheet grid for XLSX workbooks. Its extension system lets third-party tools add capabilities, including a spreadsheet interface. Microsoft explains how to find and install extensions in the Extension Marketplace documentation.

So the distinction is whether you mean without leaving VS Code or without installing an extension: the former is possible with an appropriate extension; the latter is not established by the built-in editor.

Add spreadsheet-style editing with SheetLab

  1. Open the Extensions view in VS Code and search the Marketplace for “SheetLab — Excel Viewer & Query.”

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  2. Review the publisher, listing, supported formats, and permissions before installing. VS Code warns that “Extensions have the same permissions as VS Code itself.” Microsoft’s documentation says that, starting with VS Code 1.97, installing an extension from a third-party publisher triggers a publisher-trust confirmation.

  3. Open the workbook using the extension’s documented workflow, make the needed changes in its spreadsheet interface, and save. The SheetLab Marketplace listing describes editing and saving XLSX workbook changes from VS Code.

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Marketplace listings can change, so check the current listing for its workflow and format support before relying on it.

Check format support before opening a workbook

SheetLab’s listing distinguishes among formats: it describes XLSX and XLSM editing, while legacy XLS support is described as export-only. Do not assume that support for one Excel format means full edit-and-save support for another. Confirm the current listing covers the format you have and the workbook features you need.

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Data Wrangler is for cleaning data, not documented XLSX round-tripping

Microsoft’s Data Wrangler documentation says the tool can work with XLS and XLSX data and export cleaned data as CSV or Parquet. That can suit a data-cleaning workflow, but the cited documentation does not describe saving a modified workbook back to XLSX. If you need an edited Excel workbook, use a workflow that explicitly supports writing changes to XLSX.

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What to verify for an important workbook

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