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Convert XLS to XML - Transform Spreadsheet Data Instantly

Turn Excel spreadsheets into structured XML. Ready for APIs, databases, and system integration.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Excel Data Stuck in Spreadsheets?

You have valuable data in XLS files but need it in a format that other systems can process. Web services want XML. Databases expect structured data. Manual copy-paste into different systems wastes hours and introduces errors.

Converting your Excel spreadsheet to XML creates a universal data format that virtually any software can read, parse, and import. In our testing, XLS to XML conversion preserved all tabular data while adding the hierarchical structure that modern applications require.

How to Convert XLS to XML

  1. Upload your XLS file - Drag and drop or select your Excel spreadsheet
  2. Select XML as output - Choose XML format for structured data output
  3. Download your XML file - Get properly formatted, well-structured XML data

The entire process takes seconds. No Excel installation required, no complex export settings to configure.

Why Convert XLS to XML?

Excel's XLS format excels at human-readable spreadsheets but struggles with machine-to-machine data transfer. XML (Extensible Markup Language) solves this by providing:

  • Universal compatibility - Nearly every programming language and database can parse XML
  • Hierarchical structure - Organize data in nested parent-child relationships
  • Self-describing format - Tags explain what each piece of data represents
  • Text-based editing - Open and modify XML in any text editor
  • API readiness - XML is a standard format for web service data exchange

In our testing, systems that rejected XLS uploads accepted the same data in XML format without issues.

Common Use Cases

Database Import

Database administrators frequently receive data in Excel format that needs importing into SQL databases, CRMs, or ERP systems. Converting to XML first ensures clean data parsing without formatting artifacts from the spreadsheet.

API Data Feeds

Many REST and SOAP APIs expect XML payloads. If you maintain product catalogs, inventory lists, or customer data in Excel, converting to XML prepares that data for automated API uploads.

E-commerce Product Feeds

Online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping often accept product data via XML feeds. Converting your Excel product catalog to XML enables automated listing updates.

System Integration

When connecting legacy systems or transferring data between incompatible software platforms, XML serves as the universal translator. Both systems can read XML even if they can't open each other's native formats.

Configuration Files

Software configuration settings stored in spreadsheets can be converted to XML for deployment. Many enterprise applications use XML configuration files that are easier to version control than binary Excel files.

XLS vs XML: Technical Comparison

FeatureXLS (Excel)XML
Format TypeBinary spreadsheetPlain text markup
Human ReadableRequires ExcelAny text editor
Machine ReadableLimited supportUniversal support
Data StructureFlat rows/columnsHierarchical nesting
Version ControlDifficult to diffEasy line-by-line tracking
File SizeSmaller for raw dataLarger (verbose tags)
API IntegrationRequires conversionNative support

XML files are typically larger than XLS due to the descriptive tags, but this trade-off enables far greater interoperability across systems.

What Happens During Conversion

When you convert XLS to XML, the converter reads your spreadsheet structure and transforms it into properly nested XML elements:

  • Headers become element names - Your column headers define the XML tag names
  • Rows become records - Each spreadsheet row becomes a complete XML record
  • Data types preserved - Numbers, text, and dates retain their values
  • Special characters escaped - Ampersands, quotes, and brackets are properly encoded

In our testing, spreadsheets with clean header rows produced the most intuitive XML structure. Merged cells and complex formatting may require cleanup before conversion for optimal results.

Alternative Formats to Consider

XML isn't always the best choice. Consider these alternatives based on your specific needs:

  • XLS to CSV - Simpler flat file format, smaller size, ideal for basic data transfer
  • XLSX to XML - If your source is the newer Excel format
  • CSV to XML - When your data is already in CSV format

Choose XML when you need hierarchical data structure, API compatibility, or when the receiving system specifically requires XML format.

Batch Conversion for Multiple Files

Have dozens of Excel spreadsheets that need XML conversion? Upload multiple XLS files at once and convert them all in a single batch. This saves significant time compared to converting files one by one, especially for regular data migration workflows.

In our testing, batch conversion of 50 XLS files completed in under a minute, with each file producing a properly structured XML output.

Works in Any Browser

Convert XLS to XML from any device:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • Tablets and mobile devices

No software installation, no Excel license required. The conversion runs entirely in your browser for speed and privacy.

Pro Tip

Clean up your XLS before converting: ensure the first row contains clear column headers without spaces (use underscores), remove empty rows, and avoid merged cells. This produces XML with intuitive tag names that are easier to work with in code.

Common Mistake

Converting Excel files with merged cells or complex formatting expecting them to transfer. XML only captures data values and structure, not visual formatting. Flatten merged cells and simplify your spreadsheet before conversion.

Best For

System integration workflows where you need to feed spreadsheet data into databases, APIs, or software that requires XML input. Ideal for e-commerce product feeds, configuration data, and automated data pipelines.

Not Recommended

Don't use XML if you simply need to share spreadsheet data with another Excel user - just send the XLS. Also avoid XML for very large datasets where file size matters - CSV would be more efficient for flat, simple data.

Frequently Asked Questions

XLS is Microsoft Excel's binary spreadsheet format designed for human viewing and editing. XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a text-based markup format designed for data storage, transfer, and machine processing. XML can be read by virtually any programming language while XLS requires specific software.

No. XML captures data structure and values, not visual formatting like colors, fonts, or cell borders. XML focuses on the actual data content in a machine-readable format. If you need visual formatting preserved, consider PDF or keeping the Excel format.

Yes. Each worksheet can be converted to XML. The converter processes your spreadsheet data and creates properly structured XML elements from each sheet's content.

Column headers become XML element tag names. Clean, single-word headers (or underscored names like 'product_id') produce the best XML structure. Headers with spaces or special characters will be normalized to valid XML tag names.

Usually yes. XML is verbose by design - every data value is wrapped in descriptive tags. A 100KB XLS file might become a 300-500KB XML file. This increased size is the trade-off for universal readability and self-describing structure.

Yes. XML is plain text, so you can open and edit it in any text editor like Notepad, VS Code, or Sublime Text. This is one of XML's key advantages - no special software required for viewing or editing.

Only the calculated values are exported to XML, not the formulas themselves. XML captures the result of each formula at the time of conversion. If you need formulas preserved, keep the original XLS file.

Most databases have XML import functions. In MySQL, use LOAD XML. In SQL Server, use OPENXML or XQuery. PostgreSQL has XML functions for parsing. Check your database documentation for specific XML import syntax.

Yes, but be aware that Excel's XML export has a historical limit of 65,536 rows. Our converter handles typical business spreadsheets efficiently. For extremely large datasets (millions of rows), consider splitting into multiple files.

No. The converter automatically escapes special characters like ampersands (&), less-than (<), greater-than (>), and quotes. These become proper XML entities (&amp;, &lt;, &gt;, &quot;) in the output.

Yes. XML is a standard format for REST and SOAP APIs. After conversion, you can use the XML as a request body for API calls or import it into systems that accept XML data feeds.

The XML output uses UTF-8 encoding, which supports characters from virtually all languages. The XML declaration at the top of the file specifies the encoding for proper parsing by receiving systems.

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