Helpful Hints For Creating a Command Line

NOTE: You can find two simple batch (*.bat) files for quick and easy usage from the Start\All Programs\Convert XLS\Example Batch Files. These will work without modification provided you installed in the default folder. One batch file is for 32 bit, the other for 64 bit operating systems.

HINT 1: It is highly suggested you first attempt your task with the Graphical User Interface prior to attempting to create an equivalent command line. Reasons for this are:

The user interface is much easier/faster to test than the command line.
Make sure what you want to do can be done at all quickly.
Makes you aware of exactly what must be specified in the command line.
Once you've done it in the user interface, you can very quickly test the command line by doing the easiest of all approaches, by specifying a 'Conversion Job' file by using the /J switch.

HINT 2: It is highly encouraged that at least during the initial creation of the command line that you use the Verbose (/V) switch to see what the status of your conversion is and get any error messages. /V shows you a message telling you how the command line went. If you are not getting any message at all while using the /V switch, then see hint 3 below, as you are probably not even executing the program. If you prefer a log file instead of a pop up message box, use /L{LogFilePath} instead of /V.

HINT 3: If you see the following error:

"'ConvertXLS is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."

It is because the operating system can't locate ConvertXLS.exe. Do one of the following to resolve this error:

A) (Preferred method) Specify the full path to the executable. For example:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Softinterface, Inc\ConvertXLS\ConvertXLS.EXE" /J"C:\Jobs\MyJob.SII" /V

Alternatively if using a batch file you might try something like this:

set ConvertXLS="C:\Program Files (x86)\Softinterface, Inc\ConvertXLS\ConvertXLS.EXE"

%ConvertXLS% /J"C:\Jobs\MyConversionJob.SII" /V

Note: If you are using a 32 bit operating system swap "Program Files (x86)" with "Program Files" from the above examples.

B) Set the path operating system variable to the location of ConvertXLS.EXE

Also, it is suggested you use fully qualified paths for any files you specify. You can however specify the current folder by using ".\" syntax. Use double quotes around the input and output files (/S and /T) if they are long file names.

NOTE: Copying ConvertXLS.EXE from the installation folder to some other folder is not likely to work well, so instead try one of the methods above.

HINT 4: A mistake can be made easily when constructing a command by confusing the file type constants for SPECIAL PROCESSES and the file type constants for CONVERSION of files. The file type constants are used with the /F# and /C# to specify input and output file types respectively. Be certain you are using the appropriate constants.

HINT 5: Windows Vista, Windows 7 and newer: These operating systems use a feature called User Account Control (UAC) to safeguard your computer. If you have UAC enabled and/or you are specifying an output folder that is protected, the files will be created in the %localappdata%\VirtualStore\ folder. To find the output files type in %localappdata%\VirtualStore\ in Windows Explorer. If you think UAC is having an effect on the command line you can quickly change the name of the program in your command line from ConvertXLS.EXE to ConvertXLS.Admin.EXE. Doing this will enable a prompt to elevate security before the command line is fully executed.

Do not copy/move ConvertXLS.EXE from it's installation folder without it's companion manifest file ConvertXLS.exe.manifest. Doing so will keep the program from telling you that you are trying to write to a protected folder. Again: ConvertXLS.exe.manifest should be in the same folder as ConvertXLS.exe.

HINT 6: You may use the following to specify a user independent path to files:

Path	Typical Interpretation
%USERPROFILE% or %HOMEPATH%	C:\Users\UserName
%APPDATA%	C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming
%LOCALAPPDATA%	C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local
%MYDOCUMENTS%	C:\Users\UserName\Documents

For example:

ConvertXLS.EXE /S"%AppData%\in\input.CSV" /T"%MyDocuments%\Out\output.XLS" /C-4143 /F6 /M2 /V

HINT 7: Command switches are case sensitive, therefore /F is completely different from /f.

HINT 8: If MS Excel warns that an output file (XLS specifically) is suspect click here to see how to add the output folder as a trusted folder.