Want to convert Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON)?
Try Withdata Data File Converter, a desktop Excel to JSON converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert Excel to JSON lines, 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.
Download DataFileConverter
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Windows 32 bit
Linux .deb (For Debian, Ubuntu) 64 bit
Linux .rpm (For Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE) 64 bit
MacOS 64 bit
JSON Lines text format (JSONL), also called Newline-delimited JSON (NDJSON), or Line-delimited JSON (LDJSON). JSON Lines files may be saved with the file extension .jsonl, *.ndjson, *.ldjson.
Convert Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON)
Choose Excel file -> Set target JSON Lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON) file -> Convert Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON)
Click “Start a New Convert” at task dialog.
then show the wizard.
Select source/target file type.
1. Open a Excel file.
The Excel content:
2. Config target JSON Lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON) file.
3. Set rows options.
4. Convert Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON).
See JSON lines file
Convert Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON) in command line
Save “Excel to JSON Lines” session, then you can:
- Convert Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON) in Windows command line.
- Convert Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON) in Linux command line.
- Convert Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON) in macOS command line.
Set scheduled tasks for converting Excel to JSON lines (JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON)
You can schedule and automate this converting task by:
- Save session and create .bat (Windows) or .sh (Linux/macOS) file for “Excel to JSON lines” conversion.
- Set scheduled task for “Excel to JSON lines” conversion.
FAQ
More tools for JSONL / NDJSON / LDJSON.
Download Withdata DataFileConverter
Windows 64 bit
Windows 32 bit
Linux .deb (For Debian, Ubuntu) 64 bit
Linux .rpm (For Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE) 64 bit
MacOS 64 bit
EXCEL → JSON Lines reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in EXCEL | in JSON Lines |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234 (a real numeric cell) | 1234 (number) |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 (exact only while the cell stays text) | 9007199254740993 |
| Decimal | 1234.56 (numeric cell, format controls the displayed decimals) | 1234.56 (number) |
| Float | 1.234E+10 (numeric cell) | 1.234e10 (number) |
| Text | text cell; leading zeros survive only if the column is text | "text" (string) |
| Long text | text cell; wraps inside the cell rather than the row | "multi-line\ntext" |
| Date | a serial number plus a date cell format | "2026-09-18" (string) |
| Datetime | a serial number plus a date-time cell format | "2026-09-18T14:30:00Z" (string) |
| Binary | not representable as data | "base64:..." (string) |
| Boolean | TRUE / FALSE (a real boolean cell) | true / false (boolean) |
| JSON | a text cell; the quotes are part of the value | nested object on the same line |
Dialect differences
Both EXCEL and JSON Lines are file formats, so what differs below is how each one chooses to represent a value.
| Property | in EXCEL | in JSON Lines |
|---|---|---|
| identifiers | Not applicable; a cell holds exactly one value | Double quotes; backslash escapes (a newline inside a string... |
| dates | Stored as a serial number; only the cell format makes it lo... | No date type: dates arrive as strings |
| binary | Only as text or an embedded object, not as a data column | Not supported natively - base64 inside a string |
| separator | Cells, not delimiters | Newline between records |
| encoding | UTF-8 internally, declared in the package | UTF-8 by definition |
| typing | Real cell types: text, number, date, boolean, error | Same as JSON, but records cannot nest across lines |
| shape | Multiple sheets, each a flat grid | Flat stream |
| ceiling | 1,048,576 rows x 16,384 columns per sheet; 255 sheets per w... | Streams, so it scales past what a single JSON document can ... |
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