'Convert XLS'

Comprehensive Excel Converter Tool

Convert to/from XLS, XLSX, TXT, CSV...

Fast Software

'Convert XLS' is 10-20 times faster than using Excel. It also allows for the saving and restoring of complex 'conversion jobs'. Specify a 'conversion job' within the command line or Windows scheduler and rest easy. 

'CONVERT XLS' — BATCH — 80x25
C:\>Working sample.bat files
   are installed for quick
   testing and customization.

C:\>Excel-Converter.bat
-------------SUCCESS!!!

C:\>Post-Excel-Conversion.bat
-------------SUCCESS!!!

Powerful Command Line

Command line capability is fundamental to ALL of our software tools. Demo batch files are installed ready for testing and modification. We are always here to help you implement our software.

Easy to use
File Conversion Features

Moving or deleting files while converting Excel files is no problem at all. This allows for easy, unattended conversion of whole folders. 

Convert Excel with 'Convert XLS'

'Convert XLS' Features


If you need to manipulate Excel, CSV, TXT file data, 'Convert XLS' comes with numerous features and specialized processes including:

General

Conversion Tool Extras
  • Convert up to 20 times faster when not using Excel.
  • Automate 'Convert XLS' using the command line or the COM/ActiveX interfaces.
  • Move or delete files after processing. Skip files already processed.
  • Save and restore complex conversion configurations.
  • Batch can be stopped midway and resumed at a later time.
  • Special processing of files including appending/concatenation, removing extra lines, search and replace strings and much more.
  • Can be adapted for all languages.
  • Launch (Run) a third party program

Excel Conversion

Excel Conversion Features
  • Specify:
    • Sheets to convert
    • Create a single or multiple files
    • Skip empty worksheets
    • Range to convert (e.g. "B4:J10")
    • Use double quotes
  • Convert Excel files to and from Text/CSV/HTML/XML without needing MS Excel to be installed.
  • XLSX Conversion supported. Convert XLSX to CSV, XLS, TXT, HTML, XML etc.
  • In most cases it is possible to retain leading zeroes (e.g. 0000123213012)

More info on specific Excel file conversions

Excel Manipulation

Manipulation of Excel Workbook/Worksheets

CSV Conversion

Conversion and Manipulation of CSV File Data

    Many CSV manipulation features are included:

  • Surround field with quotes
  • Pad field with spaces
  • Change the delimitation character (e.g. from comma to tab)
  • Remove Empty Lines
  • Created Fixed Width Fields
  • Include specified ROWS, discard all others
  • Include specified COLUMNS, discard all others
  • Trim excess commas
  • Pad field(s) to a fixed length
  • Remove control characters

More info on specific CSV file conversions

TXT Conversion

  • Conversion of Fixed Width Text Files
  • For each field/column specify:
    • width
    • padding character
    • alignment
  • Re-order the columns to your specifications
  • Remove specific columns
  • Any number of 'fixed width profiles' can be specified for future use
  • Easily backup all your 'fixed width profiles'
  • Excel not needed making it lightning fast
  • Append text files together
  • Of course you can do this from the command line

More info on specific Text file conversions

Need to Convert Excel Files?

'Convert XLS' in a Few Words

'Convert XLS' is a simple to use, yet powerful Excel converter utility specifically designed for Excel, fixed width text and CSV (character/comma delimited) files. If you need to convert/manipulate one or thousands of files, located in one or many folders this is the tool! Conversions can be done 10-20 times faster without using MS Excel.

Repeat complex conversion tasks simply by restoring prior 'Conversion Jobs'. A 'Conversion Job' consists of all 'Conversion Tasks' that you specify to be done within the 'Convert XLS' user interface. This makes your future work to manipulate and convert XLS/XLSX /CSV/TXT files on a regular basis a mindless endeavor!


Excel Conversions by Command Line

The command line is one of the most widely known, accepted and implemented methods for allowing one software app to initiate another app. That's why we've made it our goal to make all of our software command line able.

Automate Excel conversions with the 'Convert XLS' command line using:

  • Simple bat files
  • Windows built in scheduler
  • 'Convert XLS's built in scheduler
  • Third party apps that have command line interfaces

Special Promotion: Buy 'Convert XLS' and get 'Text to Excel Wizard', 'Convert Doc','Convert Image' and 'Convert PowerPoint' free!

If you have a non-fixed width text file that you need to convert to CSV or XLS please see please see our other tool 'Text to Excel Wizard' also.

What is the command line?

Although we'll discuss the use of the command line here, it's only to give you a taste. For the full, accurate, and up to date information see the 'Convert XLS' command line documentation. There you will also find a full list of examples and how to troubleshoot. See using the Windows Scheduler also.


NOTE: After installation, you can find several simple batch (*.bat) files for quick and easy usage by going to Start\All Programs\Convert XLS\Example Batch Files. These will work without modification provided the installation was in the default folder. Email us at  if you have any questions or need additional examples. We will get you up and running fast!


There are two approaches to using the command line:

  • Specify one or more conversion tasks in a conversion job
  • Specify a single conversion task in detail

A 'Conversion Job' is easily built using the 'Convert XLS' graphical user interface. All the details of the job are saved in a single conversion job file (e.g. 'c:\myjobs\Do-Multi-Step-Conversion.SII). Specifying a conversion job file with the command line is very easy by using the /J switch. You can have hundreds or thousands of tasks specified in the conversion job file, all of which will get executed in one fell swoop. For example:

ConvertXLS.EXE /J"D:\My Conversion Job Files\AccountingBatch.SII"


Specifying a single conversion task requires a bit more effort, but does not require the prior creation of a 'Conversion Job' file. The documentation has an enormous amount of detailed examples that are well organized. Therefore specifying a conversion task from the command line is matter of finding your specific case and modifying it for your needs. Again, please see the documentation for a complete list of examples. Below you'll find the most often used examples:

        NOTE: Items in bold can be converted without Excel being installed.

File Type Description

Unicode Text

(*.TXT) Unicode Text. Tab delimited.

Text MS DOS

(*.TXT) Text (MS-DOS) Tab delimited.

XML

(*.XML) Extensible Markup Language

HTML

(*.HTM, *.HTML) Web Page

XLS

(*.XLS) Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Workbook

XLSX

(*.XLSX) Microsoft Open XMLExcel Workbook

This is also the default file type as set in Excel's:
Office Button>Excel Options>Save

XLSM

(*.XLSM) ExcelMacro-Enabled Workbook

CSV (1)

(*.CSV) Comma Delimited

CSV Unicode (1)

(*.CSV) Comma Delimited Windows Unicode

CSV UTF-8 (1)

(*.CSV) Comma Delimited

NOTE:'Convert XLS' conversion method only.

XLSM (3)

(*.XLSM) Open XML Workbook Macro Enabled

Excel 97/95 (2)

(*.XLS) Microsoft Excel 97-2000 & 5.0/95 Workbook

CSV Mac

(*.CSV) Comma Delimited Macintosh

CSV MS DOS

(*.CSV) Comma Delimited DOS

Web Page

(*.MHT) Single File Web Page

Text Printer

(*.PRN) Space Delimited Text File

Text Windows

(*.TXT) Tab Delimited Text File

Text Macintosh

(*.TXT) Tab Delimited Text File

Text (3)

(*.TXT) Tab Delimited Text File. Platform Independent.

PDF (3)

Portable Document Format

XPS (3)

XML Paper Specification

XLSB (3)

(*.XLSB) Binary Workbook

XLTX (3)

(*.XLTX) Open XML Template

XLTM (3)

(*.XLTM) Open XML Template Macro Enabled

XLAM (3)

(*.XLAM) Open XML Add-In

DIF

(*.DIF) Data Interchange Format

Excel 5

(*.XLW) Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook

Excel 7

(*.XLW) Microsoft Excel 7.0/95 Workbook

SYLK

(*.SLK) SYLK (Symbolik Link)

Template

(*.XLT) Template

Add In

(*.XLA) Microsoft Excel Add In

International Add In

Excel International add-in

International Macro

Excel International macro

Excel 2 (2)

(*.XLS) Microsoft Excel 2.0 Worksheet

Excel 2 Far East (2)

(*.XLS) Microsoft Excel 2.0 Worksheet Far East

Excel 3 (2)

(*.XLS) Microsoft Excel 3.0 Worksheet

Excel 4 (2)

(*.XLS) Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet

Excel 4 Workbook (2)

(*.XLW) Microsoft Excel 4.0 Workbook

DBF2 (2)

(*.DBF) dBase II

DBF3 (2)

(*.DBF) dBase III

DBF4 (2)

(*.DBF) dBase IV

WK1 (2)

(*.WK1) Lotus (1-2-3) 2.x Format

WK1 All (2)

(*.WK1) Lotus (1-2-3) 2.x ALL Format

WK1 Format (2)

(*.WK1) Lotus (1-2-3) 2.x FMT Format

WK3 (2)

(*.WK3) Lotus (1-2-3) 3.x FMT Format

WK4 (2)

(*.WK4) Lotus (1-2-3) 4.x Format

WK3 Format (2)

(*.WK3) Lotus (1-2-3) 3.x and Windows Format

WKS (2)

(*.WKS) MS Works Format

Works2 Far East (2)

(*.WKS) MS Works (Far East) Format

WQ1 (2)

(*.WQ1) Quattro Pro for MSDOS Format

WJ2 WD1 (2)

(*.WJ2) Japanese 1-2-3

WJ3 (2)

(*.WJ3) Japanese 1-2-3

WJ3 Format (2)

(*.WJ3) Japanese 1-2-3 Format

(1)Note that the 'Convert XLS' conversion method can specify any character be used to delimit the data. So including the comma character, you could specify the tab, semicolon, bar or any character in the ASCII chart. Specify the delimitation character by going to the OPTIONS button then click on the "CSV, TSV…" tab (command line see /N switch).

(2)No longer supported in MS Excel versions 2007 and above.

(3)Versions of Excel 2007 and up will support this file format. PDF and XPS require the "Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS" add in. Go to Microsoft's web site and search for "Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS add in".

Our Customers


Excel Converter customer

Great customer service, prompt attention to our requirements and lightening speed development has been my experience with the staff at Softinterface Inc. Within a few hours of installing...
Bruce King, IBM Canada, Toronto, Ontario



"Thanks. The product is terrific. It did exactly what I needed it to do. I had 1321 text files I needed to convert to Word. It did it in about 6 minutes."
Don Geiger Cullen and Dykman


Adobe Systems Inc. Chooses 'Convert Doc'.  A custom site license has been signed by Adobe allowing them to install 'Convert Doc' on their servers.  They will be using it specifically to do Doc to HTML conversions. "We look forward to using your product and potentially working together in the future", Bob Free, Adobe

Excel Conversion customer (Convert XLS)

Your products are very impressive, easy to use and script compatible, for what we desired in the management of MS Word and Excel files. Thank you for your continue contact with me in regards to these tools.  Mark Purinton EMC Corporation


"Your wonderful utility took a mere ten minutes to append all 22,000 files into one gigantic 2 gigabyte file. For comparison purposes, the program that wrote the files took approximately 30 hours to write out said 22,000 files. System: 1GHz Pentium/512 Meg RAM Laptop"  'Convert XLS' 

235000

'Convert XLS' Downloads. Time tested for your demanding requirements.

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Non-profit organizations assisted. Are you a member of one? Let us know, we would like to help.

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Customers in 110 countries. 1 in 3 Fortune 500 companies use our software.
'Convert XLS' is compatible with Office 97 through Office 2016. Yes, we've been at it that long!

Latest Changes to 'Convert XLS'

16.00 (1/3/2023)

  • Office 2022 compatibility completed. Note: Office 2022 was released at the same time as Windows 11.

15.20 (12/07/2022)

  • Documentation updated for accuracy and completeness.

See complete change history of 'Convert XLS'.