This article explains how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch convert multiple Excel tables in a folder to XLSM format at once. The article combines before-and-after effect screenshots and the software interface to illustrate applicable scenarios, conversion results, file import, save location settings, and processing precautions, helping users who need to batch process table files such as xlsx and xls reduce repetitive opening and saving operations and improve daily office efficiency.
In daily office work, many people encounter the following situation: a folder contains dozens or even hundreds of Excel spreadsheets, originally in .xlsx format, but subsequent business processes, template specifications, or macro function compatibility requirements necessitate uniformly changing them to the .xlsm format. If you open each Excel file individually and then execute "Save As a macro-enabled workbook," it is not only time-consuming but also prone to missing files, selecting the wrong format, or saving to an incorrect location.
The problem this article aims to solve is: how to batch convert many Excel spreadsheet files to the XLSM format. The tool used here is a batch file processing software designed for office scenarios— HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . Its core value lies in centrally handling repetitive operations such as file conversion, organization, and renaming, making it suitable for users who frequently need to process office files like Word, Excel, PDF, and images. The following will combine screenshots to fully explain the operation process from selecting the tool, importing files, to completing the conversion.
Applicable Scenarios: When to Batch Convert Excel to XLSM
XLSM is the Excel macro-enabled workbook format, commonly used for spreadsheet scenarios that need to save VBA macros, automation scripts, button controls, or complex template logic. Even if the current file has no macros temporarily, some teams require the unified use of .xlsm to facilitate future macro additions or maintain consistency in system import formats.
Common scenarios include:
- Finance, administration, and HR departments needing to uniformly convert a large number of .xlsx reports to the .xlsm template format.
- Multiple Excel progress sheets accumulated in project management need a format unification before delivery to clients or team members.
- Spreadsheet files such as sales, inventory, budget, and exam plans are scattered in the same folder and need to be batch converted to macro-enabled workbooks.
- Internal enterprise systems or automated processes require uploading .xlsm files, while historical files are mainly in .xlsx, .xls, and other formats.
- The need to reduce repetitive manual operations of "open file—Save As—select format—close file."
For converting just one or two files, manual Save As might be acceptable; but when the number of files reaches a dozen or dozens, using batch processing software is more stable and time-saving.
Effect Preview: Before Processing, Files are xlsx; After Processing, They Become Unified xlsm
Before Processing: The folder contains multiple xlsx format Excel spreadsheets
From the before-processing screenshot, you can see that the folder "Test folder 1" contains multiple Excel files, such as Annual Budget Plan.xlsx, Exam Preparation Tracker.xlsx, Household Expense Tracker.xlsx, Monthly Sales Data.xlsx, etc. The file name suffixes are all .xlsx, and the type is displayed as Microsoft Excel Worksheet.
If these files were converted manually one by one, you would need to open each Excel spreadsheet separately and save it as .xlsm. The more files there are, the more apparent the repetitive operation becomes.
After Processing: All output files are in XLSM format
The after-processing screenshot shows that in the "Test folder 3" folder, the same batch of files has been changed to the .xlsm suffix, for example, Annual Budget Plan.xlsm, Client Contact List.xlsm, Conference Planning Schedule.xlsm, etc. The file type has also changed to Microsoft Excel Macro-Enabled Worksheet, which is the Excel macro-enabled workbook.
This indicates that after the batch conversion is complete, the main body of the file names remains unchanged, while the extension changes from .xlsx to .xlsm, making it easy for users to continue identifying the original file content while meeting the XLSM format requirements.
Operation Steps: Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to Batch Convert Excel to XLSM
The following explains the sequence based on the operation screenshots. The overall process can be summarized as: enter the Excel tools module, select "Convert Excel to Xlsm," import the files to be converted, confirm the list and proceed to the next step, set the save location, and start processing.
Step 1: Enter the Excel tool category and select "Convert Excel to Xlsm"
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can see multiple office file processing categories in the left navigation bar, including Home, Task Flow, All Tools, File Name, Folder Name, File Organization, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Image Tools, etc. Since the target of this processing is Excel spreadsheets, you need to click "Excel Tools" on the left.
Upon entering Excel Tools, the main interface will display multiple batch processing functions related to Excel, such as Convert Excel to JPG Image, Convert Excel to Docx, Convert Excel to PDF, Convert Excel to Csv, Convert Excel to Xls, Convert Excel to Xlsx, etc. According to the current goal, you should select "11. Convert Excel to Xlsm" in the interface. This function card is highlighted in the screenshot, indicating that it is the entry point for batch converting Excel files to the Xlsm format.
The purpose of this step is to inform the software of the conversion type for this task. After selecting the correct tool, the subsequently imported Excel files will be processed according to the XLSM target format, rather than being converted to PDF, CSV, XLSX, or other formats.
Step 2: Add Files or Import Files from a Folder
After entering the "Convert Excel to Xlsm" function page, the current function name is displayed at the top of the interface, and buttons such as "Add Files," "Import Files from Folder," "Clear," and "More" are in the upper right corner. For a few scattered files, you can use "Add Files"; if multiple Excel spreadsheets are all concentrated in the same folder, it is more suitable to click "Import Files from Folder."
As seen from the screenshot, 10 Excel files have been imported, and the list includes columns for Serial Number, Name, Path, Extension, Creation Time, Modification Time, and Operations. The Name column displays files like Annual Budget Plan.xlsx, Client Contact List.xlsx, Conference Planning Schedule.xlsx, etc.; the Extension column shows xlsx for all; the Path column shows these files originate from the "Test folder 1" folder on the desktop.
The purpose of this step is to add the Excel files that need batch conversion to the pending processing list. After importing, it is recommended to check the number and extensions of the files in the list. The summary at the bottom of the screenshot shows "Record count: 10," indicating that the current task will process 10 files. If you find that files not intended for conversion have been imported, you can remove them via the delete icon in the operations column on the right; if the entire list is incorrect, you can use "Clear" to re-import.
Step 3: Confirm Pending Records and Click "Next Step"
After importing the files, do not rush to process; it is recommended to confirm three points first: first, whether the file names are the spreadsheets intended for this conversion; second, whether the paths come from the correct folder; third, whether the extensions are formats supported by Excel. In the screenshot, all imported file extensions are xlsx, meeting the need for batch conversion from xlsx to xlsm.
After confirming everything is correct, click "Next Step" at the bottom of the page. The top process prompt indicates that Step 1 is "Select records to be processed," Step 2 is "Set save location," and Step 3 is "Start processing." Therefore, after clicking "Next Step," you will proceed to the save location setting phase.
The purpose of this step is to complete task confirmation before the actual conversion, preventing incorrect files from entering the subsequent processing flow. Once a batch operation involves a large number of files, early checking often saves more time than later rework.
Step 4: Set the Save Location for the Converted XLSM Files
Entering "Set save location," you need to choose the output directory according to your actual work habits. It is recommended to save the converted files into a new folder, for example, the processing results shown in the screenshot are displayed in Test folder 3. There are two benefits to doing this: first, it preserves the original .xlsx files for easy backtracking; second, the converted .xlsm files are stored centrally, making them easy to check and deliver.
If the software interface provides a default save location, it is also advisable to confirm whether the path meets the current project requirements. For important reports, financial data, or client files, it is best not to overwrite the original files directly but to output them to a new directory, archiving them after inspection confirms they are correct.
The purpose of this step is to determine where the conversion results will be stored. Setting the save location correctly can prevent issues like being unable to find the files later and reduce the risk of accidental operation on the original files.
Step 5: Start Processing and Check the Conversion Results
After completing the save location setting, enter the "Start processing" stage. Execute the processing according to the interface process prompts and wait for the software to complete the batch conversion. After conversion, open the output folder for inspection, focusing on checking whether the file suffixes have been changed to .xlsm, whether the number of files matches the imported list, and whether the main body of the file names remains unchanged.
From the after-processing effect screenshot, you can see that the original Annual Budget Plan.xlsx has been converted to Annual Budget Plan.xlsm, and other files have also been uniformly changed to .xlsm, with the type shown as Microsoft Excel Macro-Enabled Worksheet. This is the expected result for a batch conversion task.
Common Questions and Precautions
1. Will macros be automatically generated after converting xlsx to xlsm?
No. XLSM is a file container format that supports macros; batch converting to .xlsm means the file can save macros, but it does not mean the software will automatically create VBA macro code for the spreadsheet. If the original file has no macros, none will be generated out of thin air after conversion. This distinction needs clear explanation in team collaboration.
2. Why is it recommended to output to a new folder?
Batch conversion involves multiple files, and outputting to a new folder is safer. The original xlsx files can be kept as a backup, and the converted xlsm files can be used for subsequent processes. Especially for data files like budget sheets, client lists, and project plans, keeping the originals helps avoid accidental overwrites.
3. What information should be checked after importing files?
It is recommended to check the name, path, extension, and record count. The list in the screenshot clearly displays these fields; for example, the Name column is for confirming the file, the Path column for confirming the source folder, the Extension column for determining if it is an Excel file, and the bottom record count for confirming the batch processing quantity.
4. Can different Excel formats like xls, xlsx be processed?
The screenshots in this article show the conversion of multiple .xlsx files to .xlsm. Whether other Excel formats, such as .xls, .xlsb, can be used as input files should depend on the software's actual support and import results. During actual operation, you can test with a small number of files first before performing large-batch conversion.
5. Should you open files for inspection after the conversion is complete?
Spot checking is recommended. Although batch conversion can save a lot of time, important files should still undergo a results check. You can randomly open a few .xlsm files to confirm if the spreadsheet content, sheet structure, and format display meet expectations.
Summary: Batch Converting to XLSM for More Efficient Excel Format Management
Manually processing a large number of Excel files for batch conversion from .xlsx to .xlsm consumes significant time and is prone to omissions. With the help of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can use the "Convert Excel to Xlsm" function within "Excel Tools" to add multiple spreadsheets to the task list at once, set the save location according to the workflow, start processing, and ultimately obtain unified XLSM files.
If you are organizing report templates, project materials, sales data, budget files, or other Excel spreadsheets and need to uniformly convert them to the macro-enabled workbook format, it is recommended to first gather the files to be processed into a single folder, then use a batch conversion tool to complete the operation. This not only reduces repetitive work but also makes the file format more standardized, enhancing subsequent collaboration and archiving efficiency.