Error displaying excel sheet preview

[Alana Strawbridge]

When I upload an excel file to a page from my files, the preview of the sheet does not show. I also get an error when using the Excel Macro preview. How can this be fixed?

[Kris Klima _K15t_]

Hi @Alana Strawbridge 

Depending on your use case, embedding spreadsheets stored centraly in cloud (like Google Docs, iCloud, etc.) might be a better option. 

[Arkadiusz Wroblewski]

@Kris Klima _K15t_ 

To addition Data center had Native Connectors, Cloud still lacking this options fully Native.

[Kris Klima _K15t_]

@Arkadiusz Wroblewski 

Smart links work fine - providing your Atlassian org is connected to Google. Iframes may be more complex but if both environments share the same SSO... 

I tested a couple of options and smartlink/iframe-link combinations. Heck, I even managed to embed a private Google Slides presentation in a Scroll Sites site that was behind SSO - because the Slides were under the same SSO.

[Arkadiusz Wroblewski]

@Kris Klima _K15t_ 

Iframes was always more Complex in Atlassian Environment :)

[Arkadiusz Wroblewski]

Hello @Alana Strawbridge 

yep  this is usually the Excel preview renderer in Confluence Cloud failing. Try this order:

Use .xlsx (no password / no encryption)

If it’s .xls / .xlsm or protected, preview often won’t render. Save as plain .xlsx and upload again.

Upload directly to the page Edit the page → drag & drop the file into the editor → publish → then insert the Excel/Office macro and pick that attachment.

Reduce the workbook: Copy the file and keep one simple sheet (no pivots/external links/heavy formulas). If that renders, the original file is too complex/heavy for the preview.

Re-upload clean Delete the attachment and upload fresh (new filename if needed).

Browser check Try incognito / another browser to rule out cache.

If it still fails after a clean .xlsx and a simple test sheet, it’s likely a Confluence-side issue, then the next step is a support ticket with the macro error + file size/type.

[Benjamin]

HI @Alana Strawbridge ,

How are you uploading the excel file?

See if this guide can help you upload your excel file on the page:

https://support.atlassian.com/confluence-cloud/docs/insert-microsoft-office-macros/