Xlsx to xls conversion

[TandelGouravi]

Hi,
I want to convert my .xlsx file to .xls file and then perform transformation on the .xls file.
How do I do that?

Thanks in advance
-gouravi

[jamielaird]

Hi @TandelGouravi 

You can convert a file simply by configuring the Input Data tool to read an XLSX file and connecting that to an Output Data tool which writes to XLS.

If you want the XLS to contain transformed data then just add your transformation steps using common tools from the Favorites tab in between the Input and Output tool.

Many thanks

Jamie

[TandelGouravi]

Hi Jamie,
I don't want to write the xls file to database while changing the format. The file should be saved to database only after the transformation. I think using the output tool won't help.

Please share your advice on this.

Thank you
-gouravi

[jamielaird]

Hi @TandelGouravi 

Please can you clarify what exactly you're trying to achieve here? Writing an XLS file to a database doesn't make a lot of sense to me unless I'm missing something!

From your original post my assumption was that you're trying to do the following:

1) Read in an XLSX file

2) Apply some transformations to the data

3) Write out an XLS file

The process I've outlined above will achieve that, but if I'm misunderstanding the objective please let me know.

Cheers,

Jamie

[TandelGouravi]

Hi Jamie,
So my input file is fetched in the format of .xlsx and my output is expected as .xls . So as per the requirement, the transformation has to be performed on the .xls file( converted from .xlsx) and then the file has to be saved.
So I need to convert the file xlsx file to xls file for that .
Please suggest the solution

Thanks
-gouravi

[TandelGouravi]

I need to:
1) read the xlsx file
2) convert it to xls file
3) perform transformation
4) save the final file


Thanks
-gouravi

[MarqueeCrew]

Microsoft has a compatibility pack:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=1285

You can use excelcnv.exe to swap between xlsx and xls.

I previously had posted this solution:  https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/workflow-Converting-xls-file-to-xlsx/m...

It goes in the opposite direction.  But essentially, you point it to a file or directory and tell it what you want for the conversion and magically it should solve the need.

Cheers,

Mark

[estherb47]

Hi @TandelGouravi 

Per your response, you need to:
1) read the xlsx file
2) convert it to xls file
3) perform transformation
4) save the final file

With Alteryx, you can do this in a different order. Similar to a previous question on converting from .csv to .xls

This should be your process:

1) Read in the xlsx file

2) perform the transformation

3) Save the transformed data into an xls file, using the Output Data tool.

It's a new way of thinking, and very un-Excel like in that you can transform before saving to the format needed.

Please let me know if this helps.

Cheers!

Esther