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MNB PHPExcelDeveloper Guide
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Standalone XLS package

PHP XLS Library for Reading & Writing Legacy Excel Files

Use the standalone MNB PHPExcel XLS package when your application must read or write legacy Excel 97–2003 .xls workbooks with native BIFF8 and OLE/CFB support.

Feature matrix API reference
Composer
composer require mnb/mnb-phpexcel-xls:^2.0
Package
mnb/mnb-phpexcel-xls
Entry API
Mnb\PHPExcel\Format\Xls
Runtime
PHP 8.1+
Format
.xls · Excel 97–2003

Choose your XLS workflow#

01
Read legacy Excel workbooksOpen BIFF8 worksheets, select sheets, map headers, read formulas and dates, and iterate normalized rows.
02
Write Excel 97–2003 filesCreate .xls outputs for systems that still require the BIFF8 format and preserve workbook structure where supported.
03
Check format limits before choosing XLSReview the legacy row/column limits, workbook constraints, and features that are better handled by XLSX.
04
Review package capabilitiesSee exactly which native reader, writer, formula, styling, and compatibility features belong to this package.

Use the right XLS API#

TaskPrimary APIChoose it when
Read normalized rowsXls::read()You want the package-local facade with headers, sheet selection, row iteration, arrays, and normalized reader options.
List or inspect worksheetsXlsReader::sheetNames()You need workbook structure before choosing which worksheet to process.
Iterate a worksheet directlyXlsReader::iterateSheet()You need direct native BIFF8 iteration without building a higher-level facade workflow first.
Write a straightforward workbookXls::write()Associative rows and normal writer options are enough for a legacy .xls export.
Write from workbook dataWorkbookData + XlsWriterYou already have an explicit workbook model and need the native XLS writer directly.

What the standalone XLS package covers#

Read

Native BIFF8 workbook data

  • OLE/CFB compound-file containers
  • Worksheet selection and normalized rows
  • Shared strings, dates, formats and cached formula values
  • Sheet names, ranges and binary-parser safeguards
Write

Legacy Excel output

  • Excel 97–2003 .xls workbooks
  • Rows, cells, formulas, merges and dimensions
  • Workbook metadata and supported pane/layout settings
  • Package-local facade or direct native writer APIs
Compatibility

Use XLS deliberately

  • Best for integrations that explicitly require .xls
  • Native implementation without PhpSpreadsheet
  • Legacy BIFF8 format limits still apply
  • Prefer XLSX for modern workbook features and larger sheets

Package boundary: this guide uses Mnb\PHPExcel\Format\Xls from mnb/mnb-phpexcel-xls. Install the focused XLS library or the monolithic mnb/mnb-phpexcel package for a project, not both.