When a folder contains a large number of Excel tables that need to be uniformly converted to the XLTM format, opening and saving them one by one is not only time-consuming but also prone to omissions. This article takes HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to demonstrate how to use the Excel to Xltm conversion feature in Excel tools to import multiple xlsx table files at once and complete batch conversion according to the process, suitable for office scenarios such as template archiving, standard report distribution, and macro template preparation.
In daily office work, many teams organize Excel files like annual report templates, attendance templates, inventory management templates, budget templates, and sales tracking templates into template files. If these files are originally in common Excel formats like xlsx or xls, and later need to be saved in XLTM format for macro-enabled Excel template management, then manually opening each file, clicking Save As, selecting the format, and confirming the save takes up a significant amount of time.
Especially when there are many files, long file names, and they are distributed within the same project folder, repetitive operations are not only inefficient but also prone to issues like missed conversions, incorrect conversions, and disorganized save paths. HeSoft Doc Batch Tool is a batch document processing software designed for office scenarios. Its core value lies in helping users process files in batches, reducing repetitive labor. This article will focus on the need to batch convert many Excel spreadsheet files to Xltm format, combining screenshots to explain the complete process from selecting the tool, importing files, to starting the processing.
Applicable Scenarios: When do you need to batch convert Excel to XLTM
XLTM is Excel's macro-enabled template format, commonly used for office files that need to preserve template structure and support macro functionality. Compared to ordinary xlsx files, xltm is more suitable for distribution to team members as reusable templates. For example, the finance department might need to uniformly convert monthly budget sheets into reusable templates; the administration department might need to organize employee attendance sheets into standard templates; the sales team might need to share sales tracking sheets as macro-enabled template files.
If there are only one or two files, the conversion can be completed using Excel's built-in Save As function. However, when you need to process dozens or even hundreds of Excel files, the cost of manual conversion increases significantly. Each file needs to be opened, loaded, format selected, saved, and closed – a process easily interrupted and inconvenient for checking processing progress.
Therefore, batch converting Excel to XLTM is more suitable for the following scenarios:
- Need to uniformly convert multiple xlsx spreadsheets to xltm template format;
- Need to organize internal company report templates, budget templates, attendance templates, project plan templates;
- Need to complete format conversion without opening Excel files one by one;
- Need to maintain a consistent output format for multiple files, facilitating subsequent archiving and distribution;
- Hope to use office software for batch file processing, reducing repetitive clicks and manual confirmations.
Effect Preview: Before processing, they are ordinary Excel spreadsheet files
From the pre-processing screenshot, you can see that the folder contains multiple Excel spreadsheet files, with names including Annual_Report_Template.xlsx, Employee_Attendance_Template.xlsx, Inventory_Management_Template.xlsx, Monthly_Budget_Template.xlsx, Project_Plan_Template.xlsx, Marketing_Strategy_Template.xlsx, Expense_Report_Template.xlsx, Sales_Tracker_Template.xlsx, etc. The file extensions show as xlsx, indicating they are currently in the ordinary Excel workbook format.
If converting these files individually, the user would need to repeat the Save As operation many times. The more files there are, the more prone manual operation is to omissions. Therefore, it is suitable to use a batch processing tool to import these Excel files at once.
Effect Preview: After processing, they uniformly become XLTM format
The post-processing screenshot shows that the same batch of files has become xltm extensions, such as Annual_Report_Template.xltm, Employee_Attendance_Template.xltm, Expense_Report_Template.xltm, Inventory_Management_Template.xltm, Monthly_Budget_Template.xltm, Project_Plan_Template.xltm, Sales_Tracker_Template.xltm, etc. The main part of the filenames remains largely unchanged; the primary change is the file format converting from xlsx to xltm.
This result is very useful for template management. Users can continue to identify the purpose of each template based on the original filename, while also obtaining a unified XLTM format, facilitating subsequent distribution or saving as a macro-enabled template.
Operation Step 1: Enter Excel Tools and Select Excel to Xltm Conversion
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can see multiple categories in the left-side function navigation, such as Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, Image Tools, etc. Since this task involves processing Excel spreadsheet files, you first need to enter the Excel Tools category.
On the Excel Tools page, the software lists multiple batch processing functions related to Excel in card form, such as Excel to JPG Image, Excel to Docx, Excel to PDF, Excel to Xls, Excel to Xlsx, Excel to Xlsm, Excel to Xltx, etc. The function marked in the screenshot is Excel to Xltm, indicating this is the entry point specifically for batch converting Excel files to Xltm format.
Operation Purpose: Find the correct conversion function to avoid selecting other format conversion tools like PDF, Image, Xlsx, or Xlsm.
Expected Result: After clicking Excel to Xltm, enter the processing page for that function and start adding the Excel files to be converted.
Operation Step 2: Add Excel Files to be Converted
After entering the Excel to Xltm page, the current function name is displayed at the top of the interface, along with operation buttons like Add File, Import Files from Folder, Clear, More, etc. The middle of the page is the file record list, and the workflow area shows that you are currently on Step 1: Select records to process. This design is suitable for batch processing because users can centrally import all files to be converted first, then proceed to the next step uniformly.
If the number of files to convert is small, you can click Add File and manually select one or more Excel files. If all Excel files are concentrated in the same folder, you can click Import Files from Folder, which is more suitable for batch import. The screenshot shows 8 records have been imported, with the list detailing information like sequence number, name, path, extension, creation time, modification time, and operations. The extension column shows xlsx, indicating that ordinary Excel workbook files are currently imported.
Operation Purpose: Add all Excel files that need to be converted to xltm into the processing list at once for unified processing.
Expected Result: All records to be processed appear in the file list, and the record count can be seen at the bottom. For example, the summary in the screenshot shows a record count of 8, indicating readiness to batch convert 8 Excel files.
Operation Step 3: Check the File List to Ensure No Omissions or Incorrect Selections
It is recommended to check the list content before batch conversion. The advantage of batch processing software is handling multiple files at once, but this presupposes that the imported file range is correct. Users can focus on the Name, Path, and Extension columns. The Name column confirms if the file is the template to be converted this time; the Path column confirms if the file comes from the correct folder; the Extension column confirms if the file type meets expectations.
In the screenshot example, the imported files are all located within the same test folder, all extensions are xlsx, and the names match the template files from the pre-processing screenshot. If a file is found unnecessary for processing, it can be removed using the delete operation on the right side of the list. If an import error is found, you can also use the Clear button to re-add files.
Operation Purpose: Complete the verification before the actual conversion to reduce the risk of operational errors caused by batch processing.
Expected Result: Only the Excel files that need to be converted to XLTM remain in the list, and the quantity matches the user's expectation.
Operation Step 4: Click Next to Set Save Location
After confirming the file list is correct, click the Next button at the bottom of the page. The interface workflow bar shows Step 2 as Set Save Location, meaning the software will guide the user to choose the save method or output location for the converted files. Since the screenshot does not show specific save location options, the actual operation should follow the prompts on the software interface.
When batch converting Excel to XLTM, the save location is very important. It is recommended to choose an easily identifiable output folder, for example, creating a new folder named 'xltm output' or 'converted' next to the original folder. The benefit is to avoid mixing source files and converted files, and makes it easier to check the conversion results later.
Operation Purpose: Determine where the xltm files will be saved to avoid being unable to find the files after conversion.
Expected Result: The software enters the save location setting phase; the user completes the output path setting according to the interface prompts, then proceeds to the start processing step.
Operation Step 5: Start Processing and View Conversion Results
After completing the save location setting, the workflow moves to Step 3: Start Processing. After confirming the settings are correct, the user can execute the conversion. During batch processing, the software will process the Excel files one by one according to the records in the import list and output them in Xltm format.
After processing is complete, open the output folder to view the results. According to the post-processing screenshot, the file extensions have changed from xlsx to xltm, with the main part of the filenames still retaining the original template names. This allows users to maintain their file naming conventions while achieving format unification.
Operation Purpose: Let the software automatically complete the batch conversion, replacing manual one-by-one Save As operations.
Expected Result: Obtain a batch of Excel template files with the .xltm extension.
Frequently Asked Questions and Notes
1. What is the difference between Xltm and Xlsx
xlsx is the common Excel workbook format, suitable for saving ordinary spreadsheet data. xltm is the macro-enabled Excel template format, suitable for files that need to serve as templates and support macros. Batch converting xlsx to xltm is typically used for template management, report standardization, and preparation for automated office processes.
2. Is it necessary to back up original files before conversion
It is recommended to keep the original Excel files. Although batch conversion usually outputs new file formats, backing up source files before performing large-scale file processing is a good office habit. Especially when involving important data like finance, projects, inventory, or attendance, the safety of the source files should be confirmed first.
3. Can files be converted if they are currently open in Excel
If a file is currently occupied by Excel or another program, it may affect reading or writing. It is recommended to close the relevant Excel files that are open before conversion to ensure the batch processing completes smoothly.
4. Can an entire folder be imported
The screenshot provides an 'Import Files from Folder' button, suitable for batch adding Excel files from the same directory into the list. For situations with a large number of files, this is more efficient than clicking Add File one by one.
5. How to confirm success after conversion
The most direct method is to check if the file extensions in the output folder are .xltm, and to spot-check several files to see if they can open normally. You can also compare the number of files before and after processing to confirm the count is consistent.
Summary: Using Office Software to Batch Convert Excel to XLTM, Reducing Repetitive Save As Operations
Batch converting many Excel spreadsheet files to Xltm format essentially solves the problem of highly repetitive and error-prone office file processing. Through HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users can select Excel to Xltm within Excel Tools, batch add files or import files from a folder, verify the records, set the save location, and start processing.
Compared to manually opening Excel and saving files one by one, the batch processing method is more suitable for office scenarios involving a large number of files, uniform format requirements, and the need for centralized archiving. It is recommended to organize the source file folders before processing, check the file list during processing, and inspect the output results afterward. This allows for more stable completion of tasks like xlsx to xltm conversion and batch conversion of Excel templates, freeing up time from repetitive clicking to focus on tasks that genuinely require judgment and analysis.