Don’t like reading documentation? Get started quickly by looking at the many examples provided. If you are not familiar with the command line then please continue reading.
'Convert XLS' can be run without a user interface with command line arguments. You can initiate command line execution by going to the operating system’s command prompt or within Windows from the START-RUN menu and typing it in there. Lastly, the command line interface can be used from Batch files (files with *.BAT extension). A batch file can be created in a simple editor like notepad, and saved. Once saved, simply double click the bat file within the Windows Explorer to execute it (HINT: See the installation folder for a sample batch file).
There are two approaches to using the command line:
A) Specify a 'Conversion Job' that is built using the 'Convert XLS' graphical user interface and saved as a conversion job file (*.SII).
B) Specify a task in detail. A task is either a Conversion Task or a 'Special Processing Task'.
Specifying a 'Conversion Job' file is very easy, as you only need to create the file with the 'Convert XLS' user interface and then specify where to find the associated *.SII 'Conversion Job' file 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:\My Conversion Job Files\AccountingBatch.SII"
Specifying a task is a bit more tedious; however it is much more powerful/flexible and does not require the prior creation of a ‘Conversion Job’ file. This documentation provides an enormous amount of detailed examples that are well organized. Therefore specifying a conversion task from the command line should be as easy as finding your specific case and modifying it to meet your needs.
Each approach to the command line is discussed in the documentation that follows.
Important: If you see the following error or have any other issues:
"'ConvertXLS is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."
Then please read Helpful Hints For Creating a Command Line for further assistance.
See Also:
Helpful Hints for Creating a Command Line
Specifying a 'Conversion Job' File (Easiest way to do command line)
Specifying a 'Conversion Task'
Specifying a 'Special Processing' Task
Special Process File Type Constants
Excel Conversion File Type Constants