Convert Excel files to XML and vice versa

A little about Excel and XML

So, before we learn how to open, create, or translate an XML file to and from Excel, let’s take a closer look at the types of these files. Here it should be noted right away that Excel documents have many formats, while XML is the file format. Therefore, do not confuse these two concepts.

Microsoft Excel is a powerful calculation program with many useful features.

Microsoft Excel is a special utility designed for creating and editing tables. You can already do anything with them: create databases, charts, formulas and other types of data. This is a very powerful tool, so we will not discuss all its capabilities. Today our goal is somewhat different, and we will not deviate from the topic of today’s discussion.

XML files, for easier understanding, are designed to store, exchange various data between utilities. This markup language is especially often used when transmitting information over the Internet. And when you need to transfer tabular data from Excel to the site, for example, then you will need to convert your document so that it displays correctly. Therefore, let’s not delay the moment of truth and immediately proceed to the operation.

How to Convert Excel to XML

Dear friends, in fact, file conversion is a fairly simple task. However, some users may experience problems when transferring data, so today we will look at several ways to implement our plan. Therefore, we gain patience and proceed to action:

1. The easiest way, which may not work in some cases, is to save the file in the desired format in the Microsoft Excel program itself. To do this, open the required document in this application. Then click on the “File” button (considered using the example of Office 2013, in other versions the saving process may be slightly different) in the upper left corner of the Excel window, then the “Save As” item, then select the location to save the document, give it a name and in the tab file type, select “XML data”. After that, check if everything worked out correctly for you. If not, then try the following methods.
2. So, if the error occurs in the previous case, then perhaps your copy of the program does not provide support and appropriate add-ons. To install them, download and install this file to your computer or laptop. This is the XML Tools Add-in. Next, launch the Microsoft Excel program and click on the large colored button in the upper left corner of the application window (here we are already looking at an example on the 2007 version). In the block that appears, click on the parameters to the left of the exit from the utility. Now go to the add-ons item and click on the “Go” button opposite the “Manage” item. A dialog box will pop up where you need to click on the review and find the document that you downloaded from the Microsoft website earlier. Now click OK and go to the main program window, where you now have an XML Tools tab – with it, you can now easily create an XML file from an existing table. You need to save it in the same way as the previous paragraph.
3. If you don’t want to download both yourself and your computer with such information at all, then you can resort to the help of special converter utilities or online versions of these programs. For example, you can download the Format Factory application, which will allow you to complete all the necessary actions. But it is worth remembering that files saved and converted in this way do not always work in the future. That is, during the operation, sectors or areas in the document’s memory may be damaged, which will negatively affect it – it simply may not open in an XML editor, for example. Therefore, it is recommended to use either professional programs or Microsoft Excel itself.

How to translate XML to Excel

Before translating XML into Excel, you need to open it first. Let’s take a look at this short process below. So let’s get started:

1. Launch Microsoft Excel using the desktop shortcut or the File Explorer menu.
2. Click “Open More Books” at the bottom of the homepage if you’re using Office The process may be slightly different in other versions.
3. Next, click on “Computer” or another place where your XML file is located, then click “Browse” and change the data type to “XML Files” in the window that appears.
4. Now we are looking for the necessary file and open it in our program using the button of the same name.
5. Next, we will discuss how to transform our document. Go to the developer tab, then click on the import button.
6. In the window that opens, you will need to find and select our document again, on which you want to perform an action, then click on the “Import” button.
7. Then you customize everything for yourself: the area for import, the save location and other parameters. After that, you will receive a table, which you can later save in the format you need. As you can see, there is nothing complicated.

Summing up

Dear readers, today we have learned not only how to convert XML files to Excel and vice versa, but also how to create and open them when versions are incompatible. We hope that everything worked out for you and there are no more questions left. Do not forget to share your opinion and experience in the comments: perhaps you know a simple way to convert. Tell other users if you managed to translate one type of document. If it worked, please share the method you used.