.IQY File Extension

Internet Query

Developer	Microsoft
Popularity	Average rating 3 / 5. Vote count: 11
Category	Web Files
Format	.IQY
Cross Platform	Update Soon

What is an IQY file?

The .IQY file extension stands for Internet Query. These files are used by Microsoft Excel to retrieve data from online sources. They contain queries written in a special format that Excel can use to pull data from the web and display it within a spreadsheet.

More Information.

The Internet Query feature was introduced in Microsoft Excel to simplify the process of importing data from the internet directly into spreadsheets. This was particularly useful for users who needed to regularly update their spreadsheets with live data from online sources such as databases, stock tickers, or other data feeds.

Origin Of This File.

The .IQY file format originated with Microsoft Excel as a part of its functionality to fetch and integrate data from external web sources. It leverages the capabilities of the Internet Query feature in Excel, which allows users to connect to web-based data sources.

File Structure Technical Specification.

An .IQY file is essentially a text file with a specific format. It contains a URL or a reference to an online data source and often includes parameters for how to retrieve and format the data.

The structure is straightforward:

Header Information: Contains metadata about the query.
URL: The web address from which data will be fetched.
Parameters: Any additional parameters or settings for the data retrieval.

How to Convert the File?

Windows

Open the .IQY File:
- Open the .IQY file in Microsoft Excel. Double-click the file or open Excel and use “File > Open” to load it.
Run the Query:
- Excel will execute the query defined in the .IQY file and fetch the data from the web.
Save the Data in a Different Format:
- Once the data is loaded in Excel, go to “File > Save As.”
- Choose the format you want (e.g., CSV, XLSX) from the “Save as type” dropdown menu.
- Save the file with your preferred format.

Linux

Open the .IQY File:
- Use a text editor such as gedit, nano, or vim to open the .IQY file and view or edit its contents. The .IQY file itself is a text file containing a URL and query parameters.
Fetch Data:
- To fetch and convert the data, you’ll need to use a tool that can handle web queries, such as curl or wget, and then import the data into a spreadsheet application like LibreOffice Calc.
Open in LibreOffice Calc:
- Open LibreOffice Calc and import the saved CSV file.
Save as Desired Format:
- Use “File > Save As” in LibreOffice Calc to save the file in the desired format (e.g., XLSX).

Mac

Open the .IQY File:
- Open the .IQY file in Microsoft Excel for Mac. Double-click the file or use “File > Open” in Excel.
Run the Query:
- Excel will execute the query and display the data in a spreadsheet.
Save the Data in a Different Format:
- Go to “File > Save As” in Excel.
- Choose the format you want (e.g., CSV, XLSX) and save the file.

Android

Open the .IQY File:
- The Excel mobile app for Android may not directly open .IQY files. Transfer the file to a format supported by the app or use a file viewer to inspect the contents.
Fetch and Convert Data:
- You might need to use a desktop version of Excel or a web-based service to fetch and convert the data. For instance, upload the .IQY file to a cloud service that supports Excel, and then use that service to open and save the data.
Convert the Data:
- Once the data is in a compatible format (CSV, XLSX), you can open and work with it using Excel or other spreadsheet apps on Android.

iOS

Open the .IQY File:
- The Excel app for iOS may not natively handle .IQY files. Use a file viewer to check the contents or transfer the file to a format that the app supports.
Fetch and Convert Data:
- Similar to Android, you might need to use a desktop or web-based service to handle the .IQY file. Convert the file on a compatible platform and then access it from your iOS device.
Convert the Data:
- After converting to a compatible format (CSV, XLSX), you can open and work with the data using the Excel app or other spreadsheet apps on iOS.

Others

Google Sheets:
- Google Sheets does not natively support .IQY files. You’ll need to convert the file to a supported format such as CSV or XLSX.
- Use a desktop application like Excel to convert the .IQY file data into a CSV or XLSX file.
- Upload the converted file to Google Sheets and work with it there.
Online Converters:
- Some online tools might help in converting .IQY files. Search for online file conversion services and follow their instructions to convert .IQY files into formats like CSV or XLSX.

Advantages And Disadvantages.

Advantages:

Dynamic Data: Allows Excel to fetch and update data automatically from the web.
Ease of Use: Simplifies the process of importing data compared to manual entry.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Excel’s data handling and analysis features.

Disadvantages:

Security Risks: Potential vulnerabilities if querying untrusted or insecure sources.
Internet Dependency: Requires an active internet connection to retrieve data.
Limited Compatibility: Primarily useful within Microsoft Excel, with limited support in other applications.

               How to Open IQY?
                  Open In Windows
                  Microsoft Excel: Simply double-click the .IQY file, and it will open in Excel, where the query will be executed, and the data will be fetched.
Text Editors: You can open the .IQY file in text editors like Notepad to view or edit the query URL and parameters.

                  Open In Linux
                  Text Editors: Use a text editor like gedit or nano to view or edit the .IQY file.
Microsoft Excel Alternatives: Tools like LibreOffice Calc may not natively support .IQY files but can import data if you convert the file to a compatible format.

                  Open In MAC
                  Microsoft Excel for Mac: Double-click the .IQY file to open it in Excel for Mac.
Text Editors: Use text editors like TextEdit to view or edit the contents.

                  Open In Android
                  Excel Mobile App: The Excel app for Android might not directly open .IQY files, but you can view or edit the file if you can transfer it to a format supported by the app.
Text Editors: Use a text editor app to view or edit the file’s contents.

                  Open In IOS
                  Excel for iOS: Similar to Android, the Excel app for iOS might not open .IQY files directly but can work with converted formats.
Text Editors: Use text editor apps available on iOS to view or edit the file.

                  Open in Others
                  Google Sheets: Google Sheets does not natively support .IQY files. You would need to convert the file to a CSV or another compatible format and then import it.
Online Converters: Some online tools might help in converting or extracting data from .IQY files, but their effectiveness can vary.