When a business needs to convert a large number of xlsx spreadsheets into the xltm template format, opening each Excel file and saving it individually is not only time-consuming but also prone to missing files. This article uses HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to demonstrate how to use the "Convert Excel to Xltm" feature in Excel tools to batch import multiple spreadsheet files and complete the format conversion, suitable for scenarios such as template archiving, macro template distribution, and report standardization.
In daily office work, many teams repeatedly use Excel files such as annual reports, budget sheets, attendance sheets, inventory sheets, and project plan sheets as templates. If these files are originally in xlsx format and need to be uniformly changed to xltm format later, a typical problem arises: when there are many files, manually opening, saving as, selecting the format, and confirming the save one by one is not only time-consuming but also prone to missed conversions, output to the wrong directory, and inconsistent file names.
This article addresses the problem of "batch converting many Excel spreadsheet files to Xltm format." We will use screenshots and the Excel batch conversion feature in the office software " HeSoft Doc Batch Tool " to convert multiple .xlsx spreadsheets into .xltm files at once. The entire process is suitable for office scenarios requiring batch file processing, reducing repetitive labor, and improving document conversion efficiency.
Applicable scenarios: When do you need to batch convert xlsx to xltm
XLTM is the macro-enabled template format for Excel, commonly used to save workbook templates with macros, automation scripts, or template structures. Although not all xlsx files contain macros, when uniformly managing templates, performing subsequent secondary processing, or batch generating business templates, many teams require converting ordinary Excel workbooks uniformly to xltm format for subsequent distribution or maintenance according to the template file.
For example, the HR department might have multiple employee attendance templates, the finance department might have monthly budget templates and expense reimbursement templates, the project management team might have project plan templates, and the sales team might have sales tracking templates. If these files are all scattered in the same folder, converting them one by one would be very inefficient. Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can add these Excel files to the task list in batch and then convert them to the target format uniformly.
From a long-tail requirement perspective, the method in this article is not only applicable to xlsx to xltm conversion but also suitable for users to understand the basic idea of batch converting Excel files, such as batch office processing needs like Excel to xls, Excel to xlsm, Excel to xltx, Excel to PDF, Excel to csv, etc. The difference lies only in the specific conversion function selected, while the logic of batch importing, confirming the file list, and proceeding to the next step is basically the same.
Result preview: xlsx files before processing, xltm files after processing
First, look at the file status before processing. In the screenshot, you can see that there are multiple Excel spreadsheet files in the folder, such as 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 red annotation emphasizes that the current extension of these files is xlsx.
If the number of such files is small, manual processing is acceptable; but if there are dozens or hundreds of spreadsheet templates, saving each as xltm individually will take up a lot of time. More troublesome is that manual operation is prone to fatigue, leading to some files not being converted or being output to the wrong folder.
Now look at the results after processing. In the screenshot, the same batch of files has changed to the .xltm extension, for example, Annual_Report_Template.xltm, Employee_Attendance_Template.xltm, Project_Plan_Template.xltm, Sales_Tracker_Template.xltm, etc. The main file names remain unchanged, and the extension changed from xlsx to xltm, indicating that the batch conversion is complete.
The value of this processing method is that users do not need to repeatedly open Excel or repeatedly perform the "Save As" operation. By simply selecting the files to be processed at once, the software can perform format conversion as a batch task, quickly making a large number of spreadsheet files form a unified XLTM template format.
Operation steps: Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch convert Excel to Xltm
Below, we will explain how to complete the operation according to the order of the actual interface in the screenshots. Note that different versions of the interface may have slight differences, but the core process is generally: enter Excel Tools, select "Excel to Xltm", add files to be processed, confirm the list, and then proceed to the save location and processing steps.
Step 1: Open the software and enter Excel Tools
After launching HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can see multiple tool categories in the left navigation bar, including Homepage, Task Flow, All Tools, File Name, Folder Name, File Arrangement, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, Image Tools, etc. Since the current task is to process Excel spreadsheet files, you need to click "Excel Tools" on the left.
After entering Excel Tools, the right side will display various batch functions related to Excel, such as Export Images from Excel Cells, Excel to JPG Image, Excel to Docx, Excel to PDF, Excel to Xls, Excel to Xlsx, Excel to Xlsm, Excel to Xltx, etc. In the screenshot, the red box marks "13. Excel to Xltm", which is the function to be used this time.
The purpose of this step is to find the correct conversion entry in the software's tool list. The expected result is to enter the "Excel to Xltm" task page, preparing for the subsequent batch addition of files.
Step 2: Select the "Excel to Xltm" function
In the Excel Tools feature cards, click "Excel to Xltm". As can be seen from the screenshot, the description of this function is "Batch convert Excel files to Xltm format". This indicates that the software is not designed to process only a single file, but is oriented towards batch document conversion tasks, suitable for processing multiple Excel files at once.
After entering the function page, the page title will display "Excel to Xltm", and the process area shows three stages: Select records to process, Set save location, Start processing. This process tip is very important, indicating that this task requires first adding the files to be converted to the list, then configuring the output location, and finally executing the conversion.
Step 3: Add files or import files from a folder
At the top of the "Excel to Xltm" page, you can see two main buttons: "Add Files" and "Import Files from Folder". They are suitable for different batch import methods: if the Excel files to be converted are scattered in different locations, you can click "Add Files" to add them individually or multi-select; if all the files to be converted are already in the same folder, it is more suitable to click "Import Files from Folder" to import the Excel files from the folder into the task list at once.
In the screenshot, 8 records have been imported into the table list, including Annual_Report_Template.xlsx, Employee_Attendance_Template.xlsx, Expense_Report_Template.xlsx, Inventory_Management_Template.xlsx, Marketing_Strategy_Template.xlsx, Monthly_Budget_Template.xlsx, Project_Plan_Template.xlsx, Sales_Tracker_Template.xlsx, etc. The list also displays Path, Extension, Creation Time, Modification Time, and an Operation column, allowing users to confirm whether each file is correctly added.
The purpose of this step is to add all Excel files that need to be converted from xlsx to xltm to the batch processing queue. The expected result is that the files to be converted appear in the list, and the record count is displayed at the bottom. For example, the bottom of the screenshot shows "Record Count: 8", indicating that there are currently 8 Excel files waiting to be processed.
Step 4: Check the file list to avoid wrong selection or omissions
When batch processing files, one of the most important preparatory tasks is to confirm the list. It is recommended to check three types of information: first, whether the Name column includes all Excel files to be converted this time; second, whether the Path column points to the correct folder; third, whether the Extension column meets expectations. The Extension column in the screenshot shows xlsx, which means these files are indeed the Excel workbooks currently pending conversion.
If you find a file that should not be part of the conversion, you can use the delete icon in the Operation column to remove it from the list; if you find an import error, you can also use the "Clear" button at the top to clear the current list and re-add. This can reduce operational errors before formal processing and avoid converting irrelevant files to xltm.
The purpose of this step is to perform a check before the batch conversion starts. The expected result is that the task list is clean and accurate, containing only the Excel files that need to be converted to Xltm format.
Step 5: Click "Next" to enter the save location settings
After confirming the file list is correct, click "Next" at the bottom of the page. As seen from the process bar, the first step is "Select records to process", the second step is "Set save location", and the third step is "Start processing". Therefore, after clicking "Next", the software will enter the settings related to the save location.
Although the screenshots do not show the specific options on the save location page, it can be reasonably inferred from the process name that this step is used to determine where the converted xltm files will be saved. In actual operation, it is recommended to choose an output folder that is easy to identify, such as "xltm conversion results", "Excel template output", or a project-specific directory. This makes it easier to compare the files before and after processing and prevents confusion caused by mixing new files with source files.
The purpose of this step is to specify a save location for the batch conversion results. The expected result is that the software knows which directory the processed xltm files should be output to.
Step 6: Start processing and view the conversion results
After completing the save location setting, continue following the page process to "Start processing". After processing is complete, open the output directory to view the results. Combined with the before-and-after effect screenshots, you can see that the original .xlsx files have been batch converted to .xltm files, with the main file names remaining consistent and only the extensions changed.
For batch office scenarios, this step significantly saves time. Suppose there are 100 Excel template files, manual conversion might require repeatedly performing 100 actions of opening, saving as, selecting format, and saving; using a batch processing tool, you only need to import the files, set the save location, and start processing, greatly reducing repetitive labor.
Common issues and considerations
1. Will the file content become a template structure after converting xlsx to xltm?
The core of batch conversion is changing the Excel file save format, making the output file a template file with the xltm extension. To be safe, it is recommended to randomly check a few result files after conversion to confirm whether the sheet content, number of worksheets, formulas, formats, etc., meet expectations. If the original file involves macros, external links, or special plugins, it is also recommended to verify before use in actual business.
2. Can I import an entire folder at once?
As seen in the screenshots, the software provides an "Import Files from Folder" button, so when the files to be converted are concentrated in one folder, they can be batch imported this way. This is more efficient than selecting files one by one, and is especially suitable for batch processing scenarios like template libraries, report folders, and project document directories.
3. What if I find I selected the wrong files after importing?
If only a few individual files are wrong, you can delete the corresponding records in the Operation column on the right side of the list; if the entire list is incorrect, you can click "Clear" at the top and re-import. Cleaning up the list before batch conversion is an important step to avoid incorrect processing.
4. Is it necessary to back up source files before conversion?
It is recommended to keep the original xlsx files, especially when processing important financial statements, personnel materials, business templates, or historical archived files. Although batch conversion improves efficiency, good file backup habits can reduce the risk of operational errors. A safer practice is to save the output results to a new folder, leaving the source folder unchanged.
5. Does having English or underscores in file names affect processing?
From the examples in the screenshots, you can see that file names containing English words and underscores, such as Annual_Report_Template.xlsx, Monthly_Budget_Template.xlsx, etc., can be recognized by the software and added to the list normally. In actual use, it is still recommended to keep file names clear and standardized, and avoid using overly long or hard-to-identify naming methods.
Summary: Using a batch processing tool to convert Excel to Xltm is more efficient
The core value of batch converting Excel files to Xltm format is not just "changing the extension", but concentrating numerous repetitive office operations into one batch task. Through HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users can select "Excel to Xltm" in Excel Tools, then add multiple xlsx spreadsheets to the list via "Add Files" or "Import Files from Folder", and after confirming correctness, set the save location and start processing.
For teams needing to maintain template libraries, unify report formats, organize project materials, or batch distribute Excel templates, this method can significantly reduce the time cost of manual 'Save As' operations, and also lower the probability of missed processing and incorrect saving. It is recommended that before converting, you first gather the source files into a single folder, use the folder import method for batch addition, and then output the converted xltm files to a separate directory for easy review and archiving.