Conversion of CSV, TSV or Any Character Delimited File

'Convert XLS' is designed for efficient and speedy conversion of CSV files to and from a variety of formats. In this section, we will clarify what a CSV file is, discuss the potential conversions you can perform with CSV files, and provide step-by-step instructions for using the program's graphical user interface and command line for immediate execution.

 

What is a CSV File

Please see the Glossary: CSV File Format Defined.

 

What Conversions Are Possible With CSV Files

Below we show you exactly what you can convert CSV files to/from when using 'Convert XLS':

Convert from a CSV to these file types

Convert to CSV file with these file types

 

** Requires the use of the 'MS Excel' conversion method.

 

Converting CSV Files From the User Interface

For general conversions, it is highly recommended that you read "Quick Start: Converting Files" to get up to speed quickly. Once you've read this, you'll see it is a simple matter of selecting the proper input and output file locations and format. Directions for converting to/from a CSV file are given below:

 

Converting From a CSV file to a different file type

  1. Select the 'Convert Files' Action To Do

  2. Select the input file location and path. For a whole folder conversion be certain to use the *.ext format. Typically, *.ext will be *.csv but not always.

  3. 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. If you are using something other than a comma for the delimitation character pick the 'Convert XLS' conversion method.

  4. If you are using the 'Convert XLS' conversion method, specify the Input File Format. In this case it may be one of two choices, "[6] Character Separated (*.CSV)" or "[23] Character Separated Unicode (*.csv)".

  5. Click on the Options button and then the "CSV, TSV…" tab to choose what character you are using to distinguish each piece of data within each record. By default the comma is used. If you are converting to 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 how you would like it done.

  6. Now specify the output file path. If you are doing a whole folder, then specify the whole folder using the *.ext format.

  7. Finally, specify the Convert To File Format output file type.

Click the CONVERT (or F5) button to initiate conversion.

 

Converting To a CSV file from a different file type

  1. Select the 'Convert Files' Action To Do

  2. Select the input file location and path. For a whole folder conversion be certain to use the *.ext format.

  3. 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. If you are using something other than a comma for the delimitation character pick the 'Convert XLS' conversion method.

  4. If you are using the 'Convert XLS' conversion method, specify the Input File Format.

  5. 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.

  6. Now specify the output file path. If you are doing a whole folder, then specify the whole folder using the "*.ext" format.

  7. Finally, specify the Convert To File Format output file type. In this case it may be one of two choices, "[6] Character Separated (*.CSV)" or "[23] Character Separated Unicode (*.csv)"

Click the CONVERT (or F5) button to initiate conversion.

 

Converting CSV files from the Command Line

Using 'Convert XLS' to convert to/from CSV files from the command line is very simple. It is just a matter of finding the example that meets your requirements, and modifying the path to the input and output files. Select from the examples below:

   Converting Excel to CSV Files

Convert Excel (XLS) To CSV, TSV (any character delimited)

 

   Converting from CSV Files

Convert CSV To an Excel (XLS) File

Convert CSV To a Fixed Width Text File

Convert CSV To HTML/XML

Convert CSV To any file MS Excel Can Save As

 

Converting form a Fixed Width Text Files

Convert Fixed Width Text File To a CSV, TSV (or any character delimited) File.