Batch convert Excel files to TSV files

Shiji Pan

1 year ago

Want to batch convert Excel files to TSV files?

Try Withdata Data File Converter, a desktop Excel to TSV converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Batch convert Excel to TSV, Easy and Fast.

Can run in GUI mode, Step by Step, just a few mouse clicks.
Can run in Command line, for Scheduled Tasks and Streams.
Convert files locally and privately, avoid uploading large Excel file(s) to online services.
Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Click “Start a New Convert” at task dialog.

then show the wizard.

Select From “Files” “Excel” To “Files” “TSV”.

And config the first source Excel file.

List source Excel files.

After converting, you can view output TSV files.

EXCEL → TSV reference

Value kind	in EXCEL	in TSV
Int	`1234 (a real numeric cell)`	`1234`
Bigint	`9007199254740993 (exact only while the cell stays text)`	`9007199254740993`
Decimal	`1234.56 (numeric cell, format controls the displayed decimals)`	`1234.56`
Float	`1.234E+10 (numeric cell)`	`1.234e+10`
Text	`text cell; leading zeros survive only if the column is text`	`unquoted; a tab in the value splits the column`
Long text	`text cell; wraps inside the cell rather than the row`	`unquoted; newlines break the row`
Date	`a serial number plus a date cell format`	`2026-09-18`
Datetime	`a serial number plus a date-time cell format`	`2026-09-18 14:30:00`
Binary	`not representable as data`	`not representable`
Boolean	`TRUE / FALSE (a real boolean cell)`	`TRUE / FALSE`
JSON	`a text cell; the quotes are part of the value`	`the whole JSON value as-is (its own quotes stay)`

Both EXCEL and TSV are file formats, so what differs below is how each one chooses to represent a value.

Property	in EXCEL	in TSV
identifiers	`Not applicable; a cell holds exactly one value`	`Rarely used, which is exactly why tabs in data break it`
dates	`Stored as a serial number; only the cell format makes it lo...`	`Conventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00`
binary	`Only as text or an embedded object, not as a data column`	`Not supported - must be encoded`
separator	`Cells, not delimiters`	`Tab`
encoding	`UTF-8 internally, declared in the package`	`No declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM`
typing	`Real cell types: text, number, date, boolean, error`	`None - every field is text`
shape	`Multiple sheets, each a flat grid`	`Flat table, optional header row`
ceiling	`1,048,576 rows x 16,384 columns per sheet; 255 sheets per w...`	`No formal limit`

For batch jobs, large files and scheduling use the Data File Converter converter — an offline desktop app for Windows, Linux and macOS. Free trial.

New to the format? Read what a TSV file is (and how it differs from CSV).