NOTE: After installation, you can find simple batch files (XLStoCSV.bat and XLSXtoCSV.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 XLS to CSV.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 below shows how to convert a single
worksheet within an Excel file to the most popular form of a CSV file, a comma delimited file as
well as a Tab Delimited File (TSV). It can be easily modified to convert from an Excel file to
any character delimited CSV file. Also in the first example we'll show how to specify a specific
range of cells 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 Excel files within
a folder (and sub-folders).
Each
switch shown in blue is described in detail at the bottom of this page.
It is highly recommended you review each switches description before implementing
the example, thereby giving you the full power of 'Convert XLS'.
Example 1: Convert XLS to CSV Command Line - Single Sheet
To convert a single XLS file,
C:\in\B.XLS (Sheet named "LastSheet") to a comma delimited CSV
file, C:\out\B.CSV using MS Excel conversion method, the following syntax
would be used:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\B.XLS" /F-4143
/N"LastSheet"
/T"C:\out\B.CSV"
/C6 /M1 /V
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\B.XLS" /F-4143
/N"LastSheet"
/T"C:\out\B.CSV"
/C6 /M2
If you want a tab (ASCII 9) delimited file
instead of a comma delimited file adjust the /N
switch:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\B.XLS" /F-4143
/N"LastSheet^^9" /T"C:\out\B.CSV" /C6 /M2
Change the 9 (tab character)
in the example above to any character you want. Look at the ASCII chart for numeric
character equivalents.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Choosing the
delimitation character is only possible when using the 'Convert XLS' (/M2)
conversion method.
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.XLS" /F-4143
/N"LastSheet^A1:B10^9" /T"C:\out\B.CSV" /C6 /M2
Specifying ranges can be very
powerful. For example if you want to only extract column N you can use
"N:N" for the range.
Example 2: Convert XLS to CSV Command Line - Multiple Sheet Conversion
In example 1 we saw how the /N switch is used to specify the sheet/range to convert and
what delimitation character to use in the character separated CSV file. Here we build upon
that and show how to specify more than one sheet to convert.
To convert a single XLS file,
C:\in\B.XLS (Sheets named "LastSheet","FirstSheet",
and "MidSheet") to one CSV file, C:\Out\B.CSV, the following
syntax would be used:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\B.XLS" /F-4143
/N"FirstSheet,LastSheet,MidSheet"
/T"C:\Out\B.CSV"
/C6 /M2
After completion of this example
the following file will be created containing all the data of the 3 sheets
specified:
C:\Out\B.CSV
To create several output files
you can add the /U switch like so:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\B.XLS" /F-4143
/N"FirstSheet,LastSheet,MidSheet" /T"C:\Out\B.CSV" /C6 /M2 /U
After completion the output
would be several files:
C:\Out\B-FirstSheet.CSV
C:\Out\B-MidSheet.CSV
C:\Out\B-LastSheet.CSV
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The /U switch
is only applicable to the 'Convert XLS' (/M2) conversion method. Using
the 'MS Excel' (/M1) Conversion method always produces a multi-file output.
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: Convert XLS to CSV Command Line - Multiple File/Folder Conversion
Say you wanted to convert the 2nd sheet (/N"2")
regardless of what the sheet name might be, of all the XLS files within
the "C:\in\" folder and sub-folders (/R for recursive sub-folders).
To do this the syntax would be:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\*.XLS" /F-4143
/N"2"
/T"C:\out\*.CSV"
/C6 /M2 /R
The example above can be modified
to have the resulting files placed in the same folder as the input files.
By specifying the /G switch and removing the /T switch as shown below:
ConvertXLS.EXE /S"C:\in\*.XLS" /F-4143
/N"2"
/G
/C6 /M2 /R
In the last two examples, you
can also use the /M1 switch to specify the 'MS Excel' conversion method.
Command Line Switches Used Above
- The /S and /T
switches above specify Source (input) and Output (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 /C6
switch specifies that the output file to be a CSV file whereas the
/F-4143
switch specifies the input file is a XLS 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
}" 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
caret 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.
