Conversion of CSV, TSV or Any Character Delimited File

‘Convert XLS’ has very fast and powerful methods to convert CSV files to and from many file types. Here we discuss what a CSV file is and what conversions with CSV files are possible with ‘Convert XLS’. Lastly, we show you how to use both the programs user interface and command line allowing you to implement a solution immediately.

What is a CSV File

For those who aren’t sure what a CSV file is, please review 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

· An Excel File (XLS, XLSX)

· A Fixed Width Text File (both Unicode and ASCII/ANSI)

· CSV (both Unicode and ASCII/ANSI)

· HTML

· XML

· ** Any file MS Excel can Save As

Convert to CSV file with these file types

· An Excel File An Excel File (XLS, XLSX, XLSM)

· A Fixed Width Text File (both Unicode and ASCII/ANSI)

· CSV (both Unicode, UTF8 and ASCII/ANSI)

· ** Any file MS Excel can open

** Requires the use of the ‘MS Excel’ conversion method.

Using ‘Convert XLS’ to Convert 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 Original (input) and Target (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 Original (input) file location and 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\*.ext" where ext is the extension used for the files. 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 Original 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 Target (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" target (output) file type. Note that you will have more choices available if you choose the ‘MS Excel’ conversion method.

Click the ADD then CONVERT button to convert the file.

Converting To a CSV file from a different file type

1. Select the ‘Convert Files’ Action To Do

4. If you are using the ‘Convert XLS’ conversion method, specify the Original (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 Target (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" target (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 ADD then CONVERT button to convert the file.

Using ‘Convert XLS’ to Convert 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 original (input) and target (output) files.