# system.report.executeReport new XLS filetype error (Bug?)

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/system-report-executereport-new-xls-filetype-error-bug/16368>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [December 19, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/system-report-executereport-new-xls-filetype-error-bug/16368 "2017-12-19T19:40:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bfuson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bfuson/32/4597_2.png) [@bfuson](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bfuson)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/system-report-executereport-new-xls-filetype-error-bug/16368/1 "2017-12-19T19:40:20Z")

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I’m attempting to execute and save a report as an excel file (.xls) using the system.report.executeReport() function.

The line:  
`xls = system.report.executeReport('Downtime Report', fileType="xls")`

throws error:  
`com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.gateway_interface.GatewayException: com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.gateway_interface.GatewayException: Unknown file format requested`

According to the docs, xls support was added in 7.9.5, the version I am running.

Could this be a 🐛?

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**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/system-report-executereport-new-xls-filetype-error-bug/16368/2 "2017-12-19T21:49:55Z")

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> [@bfuson](#):
>
> Could this be a 🐛?

☹ Sure is - the client can save reports in XLS format directly from the report viewer, and scheduled report actions can save to XLS format - but the scripting functions got overlooked so they throw that error.

I've filed an internal ticket to get this fixed.

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**Author:** ![aramirez](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/aramirez/32/5283_2.png) [@aramirez](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/aramirez)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/system-report-executereport-new-xls-filetype-error-bug/16368/3 "2018-10-05T17:14:36Z")

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Hello… I am also facing the same error when exporting to XLS format.  
I am running Version: 7.9.8 (b2018053113)

com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.gateway\_interface.GatewayException: com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.gateway\_interface.GatewayException: Unknown file format requested

```
caused by GatewayException: Unknown file format requested
caused by IllegalArgumentException: Unknown file format requested
```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bob](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bob/32/16899_2.png) [@Bob](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Bob)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/system-report-executereport-new-xls-filetype-error-bug/16368/4 "2025-02-10T22:14:23Z")

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Did this bug ever get fixed for any version of 7.9.x? Using 7.9.14 and still not working. - Thanks

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**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/system-report-executereport-new-xls-filetype-error-bug/16368/5 "2025-02-10T22:20:10Z")

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AFAICT this wasn't fixed until Ignition 8.0.7.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bob](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bob/32/16899_2.png) [@Bob](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Bob)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 12:12am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/system-report-executereport-new-xls-filetype-error-bug/16368/6 "2025-02-11T00:12:15Z")

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Thanks