Convert XLSM to HTML & Convert XLSM to XML With/Without MS Excel

(Batch Conversion of Open XML Excel Workbook Files to/from HTML, XML, Fixed Width Text etc.)

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Do you need software to convert XLSM to HTML or XML? If so, we have 'the tool'. 'Convert XLS' can convert Macro-Enabled Workbook (XLSM) to HTML (as well as XML, XLS, or a fixed width text file) 10 to 20 times faster than using MS Excel. In fact you can do these conversions with or without MS Excel giving you great flexibility. Using MS Excel is not as fast, but it gives you many more file types that you can convert to (such as PRN, DBF, WKS etc).

Furthermore, all our conversion tools allow you to automate the process by using the built in scheduler, command line (batch files, command prompt etc.), or for you programmers a COM/ActiveX interface.

Office 2019 Compatible!

For details on how to specifically convert from XLSM to HTML/XML please continue reading below. See the bottom of this page for some examples showing how to convert XLSM to HTML (or XML) from the command line.

Convert XLSM to HTML or Convert XLSM to XML with the 'Convert XLS' User Interface

First we show what conversions are possible with XLSM files, then we discuss specific directions for how to use the programs user interface.

What Conversions Are Possible With XLSM Files

Below we show you what you can convert XLSM files to/from when using ‘Convert XLS’, click on the link for more details:

Convert from XLSM TO these file types

Convert XLSM to CSV (Unicode and ASCII/ANSI)
Convert XLSM to Fixed Width Text File (Unicode and ASCII/ANSI)
Convert XLSM to HTML
XLSM to XLSX
XLSM to XLS
Excel to PDF or XPS
Convert from Excel to Any file MS Excel can Save As

Convert XLSM to HTML/XML Files From the User Interface

Directions for converting to/from a CSV file are given below:

See an online video.

Converting From XLS file to a different file type

1. Select the ‘Convert Files’ Action To Do

2. Select the input file path. For a whole folder be certain to use the *.ext format. For example if you want to convert the folder of XLSM files located in “C:\input folder\” then use “C:\input folder\*.XLSM”.

Choose the ‘Convert XLS’ conversion method. You can also select the MS Excel conversion method if you have MS Excel installed.

Specify the Original File Format. In this case it is “[52] MS Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.XLSM)”.

Click on the Options button and choose the sheets, ranges and whether to include values or 'formulas and values' to convert. There are also XML specific options in this area.

3. Now specify the Target (output) file path. If you are doing a whole folder, then specify the whole folder using the “*.ext” format (for example "c:\output\*.htm"). Finally, specify the ‘Convert To File Format” target (output) file type. In this case it may be one of two choices, “[44] Web Page (*.HTM, *.HTML)” or “[46] XML (*.XML)”. Note that you will have more choices available if you choose the ‘MS Excel’ conversion method.

4. Click the CONVERT button on the tool bar to start converting.

Converting To XLSM file from a different file type, a CSV file for example.

1. Select the ‘Convert Files’ Action To Do

2. Select the input file path. For a whole folder be certain to use the *.ext format. For example if you want to convert the folder of csv files located in “C:\input folder\” then use “C:\input folder\*.csv".

Choose either ‘Convert XLS’ or ‘MS Excel’ conversion method. The ‘Convert XLS’ conversion method can be 10-20 times faster than the ‘MS Excel’ conversion method. The ‘MS Excel’ conversion method however, can convert any file MS Excel can open.

If you are using the ‘Convert XLS’ conversion method, specify the Original (input) File Format. In this case it may be one of two choices, “[6] Character Separated (*.CSV)” or “[23] Character Separated Unicode (*.csv). If using a CSV file, click on the Options button and then the “CSV, TSV…” tab to choose what character you want to distinguish each piece of data within each record of the csv file. By default the comma is used. If you are converting from a ‘Fixed Width Text File’ (‘Convert XLS’ conversion method is required for this), then click on the “Converting to/from a Fixed Width Text File” tab and specify each column width.

3. Now specify the Target (output) file path. If you are doing a whole folder, then specify the whole folder using the “*.ext” format (for example "c:\output\*.XLSM"). Finally, specify the ‘Convert To File Format” target (output) file type. In this case it is “[52] MS Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.XLSM)”. Note that you will have more choices available if you choose the ‘MS Excel’ conversion method.

4. Click the CONVERT button on the tool bar to start converting.

Command Line Examples: Conversion of XLSM to HTML/XML

NOTE: 'Convert XLS' can be used simply with the graphical user interface (GUI). If you've never heard of 'Command Line' before, we would recommend not reading this section and instead download and try the software.

This is just a sample from the documentation. If you have trouble running these examples please see Helpful Hints For Creating a Command Line within the documentation.

The first example shows how to convert a single worksheet within a XLSM file to a HTML file using both the ‘Convert XLS’ and ‘MS Excel’ conversion methods. Also in the first example we’ll show how to specify a specific range within a sheet(s) to convert.

The second example shows how to convert multiple sheets within a single Excel file. Creating a single and multi-file output is illustrated.

The third and final example shows how to convert one or more sheets within many XLSM files within a folder (and subfolders).

To convert to XML simply change the /C44 to /C46 in the examples below. Although not shown in the examples below, the /H switch could have been added to include values in addition to formulas when converting the Excel file.

Each switch shown in blue is described in detail below the examples. It is highly recommended you review each switches description before implementing the example, thereby giving you the full power of ‘Convert XLS’.

Example 1 (Single Sheet Conversion)

To convert a single XLSM file, C:\in\B.XLSM (Sheet named "LastSheet") to a HTML file, C:\out\B.HTM using the ‘Convert XLS’ conversion method, the following syntax would be used:

ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\B.XLSM" /F52 /N"LastSheet" /T"C:\out\B.HTM" /C44 /M2 /V

Building on the last example, say you want to specify a range, say A1:B10 within a sheet to convert. No problem, simply modify the /N switch as shown below:

ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\B.XLSM" /F52 /N"LastSheet^A1:B10" /T"C:\out\B.HTM" /C44 /M2 /V

Specifying ranges can be very powerful. For example if you want to only extract column N you can use “N:N” for the range.

To do the same using the 'MS Excel' conversion method (slower and MS Excel is required) simply change the /M2 switch to /M1 as shown below:

ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\B.XLSM" /F52 /N"LastSheet" /T"C:\out\B.HTM" /C44 /M1 /V

Example 2 (Multiple Sheet Conversion)

In example 1 we saw how the /N switch is used to specify the sheet/range to. Here we build upon that and show how to specify more than one sheet to convert.

To convert a single XLSM file, C:\in\B.XLSM (Sheets named "LastSheet","FirstSheet", and "MidSheet") to one HTM file, C:\Out\B.HTM, the following syntax would be used:

ConvertXLS /S"C:\in\B.XLSM" /F52 /N"FirstSheet,LastSheet,MidSheet" /T"C:\Out\B.HTM" /C44 /M2 /V

After completion of this example the following file will be created containing all the data of the 3 sheets specified:

C:\Out\B.HTM

To create several output files you can add the /U switch like so:

ConvertXLS /S"C:\in\B.XLSM" /F52 /N"FirstSheet,LastSheet,MidSheet" /T"C:\Out\B.HTM" /C44 /M2 /U /V

After completion the output would be several files:

C:\Out\B-FirstSheet.HTM

C:\Out\B-MidSheet.HTM

C:\Out\B-LastSheet.HTM

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The /U switch is only applicable to the ‘Convert XLS’ (/M2) conversion method.

If FirstSheet, MidSheet, and LastSheet were indexed 1,2 and 4 respectively, the same results can be attained by setting /N To /N"1-2,4".

Example 3 (Multiple File/Folder Conversion)

Say you wanted to convert the 2^nd sheet (/N"2") regardless of what the sheet name might be, of all the XLSM files within the “C:\in” folder and subfolders (/R for recursive subfolders). To do this the syntax would be:

ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\*.XLSM" /F52 /N"2" /T"C:\out\*.HTM" /C44 /M2 /R /V

The example above can be modified to have the resulting files placed in the same folder as the original files. By specifying the /G switch and removing the /T switch as shown below:

ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\*.XLSM" /F52 /N"2" /G /C44 /M2 /R /V

In the last two examples, you can also use the /M1 switch to specify the ‘MS Excel’ conversion method.

The /S and /T switches above specify Source (input) and Target (output) path respectively and are both required when converting a single file. It is always a good idea to use double quotes around the path especially if there are space characters within the path.
The /C44 switch specifies that the target (output) file to be a HTML file whereas the /F52 switch specifies the original (input file) is a XLSM file. See Excel Conversion File Type Constants (documentation) for all possible values for /C and /F.
The /M2 switch tells it to use the ‘Convert XLS’ conversion method which is exceptionally fast. Note the /M1 switch could have been used to specify the ‘MS Excel’ conversion method which is a bit slower and requires MS Excel.
The /R switch tells it to search the original folder and its subfolders for files to convert.
/G switch can be used to tell ‘Convert XLS’ to simply place each output file in the same folder as each input file.
/N"{Sheet^Range^DelimChar^FixedWidth^X}" Is used when converting to/from an Excel, CSV or fixed width text file. It specifies which Sheets to convert, what Range to convert and what delimitation/separation character to use, and the method to import export to a fixed width text file. The syntax for this parameter is critical, the items are separated by a carrot character "^". If you do not include Sheet, Range or DelimChar by leaving them blank they will default to all sheets, all used ranges and the comma delimitation character. Be certain to include the double quotation character around this parameter like: /N"Apples,Oranges^A2:B20^9"

Sheet: Only used when an Excel file is the original file. Use "*" or "" for all sheets. You can use names of sheets, or the numeric index. If using numeric indices, you can specify ranges of sheets (i.e. "1,4,10-20" and "4-10,9" etc.). Range and DelimChar are optional.

Range: You could optionally specify a range, say if you only wanted to convert a portion of the input file. Use the same syntax as an Excel range (e.g. A1:B10).

DelimChar: Not useful in these examples. It is for specifying the ASCII value of the delimitation character used in a CSV file. 44 for comma, 124 for Bar “|”, 9 for the tab etc.

FixedWidth: Not useful in these examples. Here you can specify how to import/export a fixed width text file. Not used in this example.

/H If converting from XLSM to something else and using the ‘Convert XLS’ conversion method (/M2) you can optionally specify to include values along with formula, much like "MS Excel" conversion method does.
/U If converting an XLSM file with multiple sheets specified, the /U switch will generate multiple files instead of a single file.
The /V (for Verbose) switch is used to give instant feedback by having the program report the status of the conversion with a message box. You can remove this once you have perfected your command line specification. You can also (or instead of /V) create a Log file that will contain the results of the conversion by using the /L switch.

Note: It is highly encouraged that you use the Verbose (/V) switch initially to see what the status of your conversion is and to help you perfect your command line. When in verbose mode the program will tell you what went wrong or right with your command line using message boxes.