Batch convert Excel files to TXT files

Shiji Pan

1 year ago

Want to batch convert Excel files to TXT files?

Try Withdata Data File Converter, a desktop Excel to TXT converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Batch convert Excel to TXT, 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” “TXT”.

And config the first source Excel file.

List source Excel files.

After converting, you can view output TXT files.

EXCEL → TXT reference

Value kind	in EXCEL	in TXT
Int	`1234 (a real numeric cell)`	`1234, or right-aligned in a fixed-width column`
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`	`written as-is; padding depends on the chosen layout`
Long text	`text cell; wraps inside the cell rather than the row`	`written as-is`
Date	`a serial number plus a date cell format`	`whatever the writer chose`
Datetime	`a serial number plus a date-time cell format`	`whatever the writer chose`
Binary	`not representable as data`	`not representable`
Boolean	`TRUE / FALSE (a real boolean cell)`	`Y / N, or 1 / 0, or TRUE / FALSE`
JSON	`a text cell; the quotes are part of the value`	`written as-is`

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

Property	in EXCEL	in TXT
identifiers	`Not applicable; a cell holds exactly one value`	`None by convention`
dates	`Stored as a serial number; only the cell format makes it lo...`	`Whatever the writer produced; no convention is guaranteed`
binary	`Only as text or an embedded object, not as a data column`	`Not supported`
separator	`Cells, not delimiters`	`Whatever was chosen - often fixed column widths`
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`	`Free form; a parser has to be told the layout`
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.