How to convert XLS to XML
- Add your .XLS file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .XML in a few seconds.
- Download your new .XML file.
What to expect
- Cell values, layout, and basic formatting are represented as text tags; the exact detail preserved depends on the XML schema used for export.
- VBA macros and other embedded executable content are not carried over - only spreadsheet data and formatting.
- Live formulas may be written out as text, but behavior can differ from the original binary workbook, so verify calculated results after conversion.
Frequently asked questions
What does the resulting XML contain?
The workbook's cell values, structure, and formatting are written out as plain-text tags. Because
XML is text rather than a binary BIFF8 container, the data becomes human-readable and can be parsed by any program that reads XML.Why convert XLS to XML?
XLS is a proprietary binary Microsoft format, while XML is an open, tag-based standard. Exporting to XML makes the spreadsheet data easy to feed into other systems, import into custom applications, or process with generic text and XML tooling.
Where can I open the XML output?
Any text editor or XML-aware program will open it, and spreadsheet applications that understand the exported schema can read it back as a table. Unlike XLS, it does not require Excel or an Excel-compatible spreadsheet engine just to inspect the contents.
Are Excel macros carried into the XML?
No. A legacy XLS can embed VBA macros, but a plain-text XML export holds data and formatting, not executable code. This drops the macro-based malware risk that XLS attachments carry, but any automation the workbook relied on will not function.
Programs that convert XLS: FileMaker Pro for Windows · Full Convert Enterprise · Microsoft Excel · Navicat Premium · FileMaker Pro for Mac · Apache OpenOffice Calc (OpenOffice.org Calc) · LibreOffice Calc
