NOTE: After installation, you can find simple batch files (XLSXtoXLS.bat) 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!
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.
If you have trouble running these examples see
Helpful Hints For Creating a Command Line.
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:\Job Files\Convert XLSX to XLS.SII"
Specifying a single conversion task requires a bit more effort, but does not require
the prior creation of a 'Conversion Job' file.
The first example shows how to convert a XLSX to a XLS 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 (XLSX File to XLS)
To convert a single XLS file,
C:\in\input.XLSX to a XLS file located in the C:\Out\ folder, the following syntax would be used:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\input.XLSX" /T"C:\Out\output.XLS" /F51
/C-4143 /M1
To do the same using the 'Convert
XLS' conversion method (extremely fast and MS
Excel not required) change the /M1 switch to /M2 as shown below:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\input.XLSX" /T"C:\Out\output.XLS" /F51
/C-4143 /M2
Example 2 (Convert a whole folder)
To convert a whole folder (and sub-folders) of XLSX files located in the C:\in\
folder to XLS files to be placed in the c:\Out\ folder, the following syntax
would be used:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\*.XLSX" /T"C:\Out\*.XLS" /F51
/C-4143 /M2 /R
The /G switch can be used to
tell 'Convert XLS' to place each output file in the same folder as each
input file. Therefore the command line above is equivalent to the command
line below:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\*.XLSX"
/G /F51 /C-4143 /M2 /R
You may want to convert a whole
folder and its sub-folders and place the output into a separate folder/drive.
In which case use this syntax:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\*.XLSX"
/T "C:\Out\*.XLS" /G
/F51 /C-4143
/M2 /R
- 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 /C-4143
switch specifies that the target (output) file to be a XLS file whereas
the /F51 switch specifies the input
file is a XLSX file. See
Excel
Conversion File Type Constants 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 input folder
and its sub-folders for files to convert.
- /G
switch can be used to tell 'Convert XLS' to 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 input 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:
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:
Here you can specify how to import/export a fixed width text file. Not
used in this example.
- /H
If converting from XLS 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 XLS 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.
