.vts File, what is it & how can i read it?

Question

I am attempting to view temperature data which was recorded during a lab. The file type is .vts and i am having issues trying to open the file in excel. The file is unreadable in notepad, word, etc.

Answer 1

A VTS file is not a file type recognised by Windows or any of the Office apps, most likely it is a file type that is meant to be opened only by some 3rd party software.

What software was used to record the temperature data during the lab, and in that software, is there an option to save out the data or convert it to another file format that is recognised by Windows or Excel.

Answer 2

Excel in Windows does not recognize .vts as a supported workbook or text format. Common Excel-related extensions include .xlsx, .xls, .xlsm, .csv, .txt, etc., but .vts is not among the documented Excel or common Windows file types.

.vts is therefore almost certainly a proprietary or application-specific format created by the temperature-logging or lab instrument software, not by Excel. That is why it appears unreadable in Notepad, Word, and Excel.

To read the data:

1. Identify the software or device that created the .vts file (data logger, lab instrument, or vendor application).
2. Open the file in that original application.
3. From that application, export or save the data to a format Excel can open, such as:
   • Excel workbook (.xlsx)
   • Excel 97–2003 workbook (.xls)
   • Comma-delimited (.csv)
   • Text (.txt)
4. Then open the exported file in Excel.

If the original application is unknown, use Windows to search for an app that can open the extension:

1. In File Explorer, right-click the .vts file.
2. Select Open with > Search the Microsoft Store.
3. If a compatible app exists in Microsoft Store, install it and use it to open/convert the file.

Excel itself cannot directly interpret an unknown binary format like .vts; it must first be converted to a supported format.

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References:

• Common file name extensions in Windows