'Convert XLS'

Comprehensive Excel Converter Tool

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

Try it for free!

Why Choose 'Convert XLS'?

'Convert XLS' in a Few Words

'Convert XLS' is a Windows Excel conversion and manipulation tool from SoftInterface that handles XLS, XLSX, XLSM, CSV, TXT, HTML, XML, and many legacy spreadsheet formats. It runs from a graphical interface or the command line, supports unattended batch processing of entire folders, and runs 10 to 20 times faster than Microsoft Excel for many conversion operations.


Beyond conversion, 'Convert XLS' manipulates workbook contents: copy sheets and ranges between workbooks, append data from a folder of files into a single sheet, run Excel macros from the command line, batch-print, transpose, search-and-replace cell contents across sheets, change numeric formats, and apply more than 100 special-processing operations during a batch run. Excel is not required for common conversions.


'Convert XLS' is compatible with the latest version of Microsoft Office (back to MS Office 97), has more than 241,000 downloads to date, and is used by many of the world's largest corporations. Free 30-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee on every purchase.

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

Why 'Convert XLS'?

Plenty of spreadsheet converters exist. A few reasons users pick 'Convert XLS' over the alternatives:

  1. Local processing — your data stays on your machine. Most online converters require uploading your spreadsheets to their servers. 'Convert XLS' runs entirely on Windows; nothing leaves your computer. Decisive for financial, healthcare, and government workflows where data-residency rules are strict, or any time the spreadsheet contains PII, financial figures, or proprietary data.

  2. Built for production batches, not one-off conversions. Engineered for jobs that run thousands of files at a time: drive from Windows Task Scheduler, BAT files, COM/ActiveX, or 'Convert XLS's built-in scheduler. Save complex multi-step jobs as reusable .SII files and rerun them on demand. Batches resume from interruption; previously-processed files are skipped automatically on rerun.

  3. Conversion and manipulation in one tool. Most spreadsheet converters do exactly that — convert format A to format B. 'Convert XLS' also rewrites contents during the run: copy sheets and ranges between workbooks, append data from many workbooks into one, change cell formulas and number formats, search-and-replace cell contents, run Excel macros, and transpose data — all in batch, all from the command line. One pass instead of three scripts.

  4. Risk-free evaluation. Free 30-day trial with full functionality — no time-bombed features. 30-day money-back guarantee after purchase if it doesn't fit your workflow.

Download and try 'Convert XLS' free.

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!

NOTE:  'Text to Excel Wizard' is free with 'Convert XLS' and it can handle all your text file to Excel/CSV conversions.

More info on using the command line?

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:

All Supported File Types

        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

Excel Converter customer Adobe

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' 

241000

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

54

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

110

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'

18.51 (05/21/2026)

  • Command line - Documentation update: Special Process 101 (Copy Sheet Data). If /8 is left blank the data is copied to the same range as specified by /5 sSpecifiedRangeToCopyFrom. Previously, it was written the data would be copied to cell A1.

18.50 (05/13/2026)

  • Enhancement: Special Process 112 (Clear cell contents). Users can now specify multiple sheets. Now multiple ranges and sheets are available.

18.40 (5/02/2026)

  • Bug Fix/Enhancement: Special Process 101 (Copy Sheet Data) and Special Process 112 (Clear Cell Contents) now handle ranges with wild cards much better. Multiple ranges can now be specified each with or without a wild card.

    Range parameters accept wildcard suffixes that resolve to the appropriate last row at the time the process runs. This avoids having to compute or hardcode the size of your data.

    The single-asterisk form B2:B* finds the last non-empty cell in column B by scanning upward from the bottom of the column. Use this when you want exactly the data in column B, regardless of what other columns contain.

    The double-asterisk form B2:B** instead uses the sheet's overall used area to determine the end row, then restricts the range to column B. Use this when you are copying column B alongside other columns and need the row counts to align — for example, when column D has data through row 100 but column B only has data through row 50, B2:B** will still return through row 100.

    The bare-asterisk form B2:* expands to the worksheet's last used cell, which may include columns to the right of the start. The result could be something like B2:D50 if D is the rightmost used column and 50 is the last used row.

    Comma-separated lists are supported and each entry is expanded independently. B2:B*,G2:G* is two ranges, evaluated separately, with no interaction between them.

    If the column on the right side of the wildcard differs from the start column (for example, B2:D*), the bottom row is taken from the wildcard column (D), and the resulting range spans from B through D.

    If a column referenced by B* or B** is empty below the start row, the result collapses to the start cell alone (for example, B2:B* with an empty column B becomes just B2).

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