SPARKPOND / GUIDE
How to Convert Excel XLSX to CSV Without Excel
A browser can read XLSX values locally and serialize each selected sheet as a separate CSV.
Problem symptoms
- A system accepts CSV but not XLSX.
- A workbook contains several import sheets.
Why it happens
- CSV is a single table while XLSX is a workbook container.
Example before and after
Before
Workbook: Customers + Orders sheets
After
workbook-customers.csv + workbook-orders.csv
Procedure
- Open the workbook locally.
- Select sheets.
- Review dates, merged cells and cached formula values.
- Choose delimiter and export each sheet.
Common mistakes
- Expecting formulas to recalculate.
- Combining unrelated sheets into one CSV.
Other possible solutions
- Use the spreadsheet application Save As command when formulas must be recalculated first.
Important limitations
- Encrypted workbooks are refused and formatting is not represented in CSV.