How to See Original Owner Information in Excel Files

Why Investigate Excel File Ownership?

There are many legitimate reasons to investigate the original owner information in Excel files. Whether you're conducting a forensic analysis, verifying document authenticity, or investigating potential security breaches, understanding file ownership can provide crucial insights.

Legal Use Cases

File ownership investigation is commonly used in legal proceedings, compliance audits, internal investigations, and security forensics to establish document authenticity and origin.

What Owner Information is Available?

Excel files contain various types of ownership and author information that can be investigated:

Author Information

• Original creator's name
• Email address
• Company or organization
• User account details

Timeline Data

• File creation date and time
• Last modified by whom
• Total editing time
• Application version used

Methods to Investigate File Ownership

File Properties Method

The most straightforward way to check file ownership is through Excel's built-in properties.

Steps:

Open the Excel file
Go to File → Info → Properties → Advanced Properties
Check the "Summary" tab for author information
Review the "Statistics" tab for creation/modification dates

Note: This method only shows information that hasn't been manually removed or cleaned.

Document Inspector

Excel's Document Inspector can reveal hidden information and metadata that might not be visible in properties.

Steps:

Go to File → Info → Check for Issues → Inspect Document
Select all categories for inspection
Click "Inspect" to see what information exists
Review the results for author and metadata information

Professional Forensic Tools

For comprehensive investigation, professional forensic tools can extract deeper metadata and hidden information.

Advanced metadata extraction
Hidden content discovery
File structure analysis
Timeline reconstruction

Advantage: Professional tools can often recover information that has been partially deleted or hidden using standard methods.

Advanced Investigation Techniques

Hidden Content Analysis

Look for hidden worksheets, comments, and tracked changes that might contain author information.

• Check for hidden worksheets (right-click tabs)
• Review all comments and notes
• Look for tracked changes history
• Examine embedded objects and links

File Structure Analysis

Analyze the internal file structure for clues about creation and modification history.

• Examine XML structure in .xlsx files
• Check for template references
• Look for custom properties
• Analyze formula and cell references

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Important Legal Notice

File ownership investigation should only be conducted for legitimate purposes and in compliance with applicable laws.

• Ensure you have legal authority to investigate the file
• Follow data protection and privacy regulations
• Document your investigation process for legal purposes
• Consult legal counsel for sensitive investigations

Best Practices for File Investigation

Document Everything

Keep detailed records of your investigation process, including screenshots, timestamps, and methodology for legal and audit purposes.

Preserve Evidence

Create forensic copies of files before investigation to preserve original evidence and maintain chain of custody.

Use Multiple Methods

Combine multiple investigation techniques to get a complete picture of file ownership and creation history.

Conclusion

Investigating Excel file ownership requires a systematic approach and understanding of the various methods available. While basic information can often be found through file properties, more comprehensive investigations may require professional forensic tools and techniques.

Always ensure that your investigation is conducted legally and ethically, with proper documentation and preservation of evidence. For complex cases, consider consulting with forensic experts or legal counsel.