Conversion Task

Before 'Convert XLS' can work its magic, you need to tell it what to do. Think of each job you want it to do as a 'conversion task'. You set up each task in the top part of the program. Once you've filled in all the details, you can hit the Add button (or press ALT-A). As you add more tasks, you'll see them lined up one after the other at the bottom of the screen, in what we call the conversion task list.

Editing a conversion task is easy. Just click on the task in the list with your mouse. After you make changes, hit the Update button (ALT-U) at the top. Double clicking on a conversion task list item will open the Options associated with the conversion item.

Remember, we use the word "task" a lot in this guide. It just means one thing you want to do, which appears as a single line in the task list.

When setting up a task, the first choice is whether it's a conversion or a special process. Conversion changes a file's type (like turning an XLS into a CSV, or a TXT into an XLSX). For tweaking what's inside a file, pick (S)pecial Processing on Files.

For a conversion task, you'll also need to pick the files you're changing and their types. The Options button lets you tweak more details.

A bunch of tasks can be grouped into what we call a Conversion Job, which we'll talk about next.

See also:

'Conversion Task'

'Conversion Job'

Putting It All Together

Editing a 'Conversion Job'

Saving and Restoring a 'Conversion Job'

Creating a New 'Conversion Job'

Saving the Log as a 'Conversion Job'