When multiple Excel template files need to be uniformly converted to xltm format, saving them manually one by one is very inefficient. This article focuses on office file batch processing scenarios and introduces how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to enter the Excel tool, select "Convert Excel to Xltm", generate a task list by adding files or importing from a folder, and then complete the save location settings and batch conversion according to the process, helping users quickly unify the format of spreadsheet templates.
In enterprise document management, Excel spreadsheets often serve as templates, such as annual report templates, employee attendance templates, inventory management templates, monthly budget templates, sales tracking templates, and more. As business evolves, the same type of template can be copied into many versions, distributed across different project or department folders. When the company requires these regular Excel workbooks to be uniformly organized into the xltm template format, if you still rely on manually opening each file and saving it as, it is not only inefficient but also makes subsequent verification very troublesome.
This article will focus on "Batch Converting Multiple Excel Template Files to xltm," explaining how to use the office software HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to accomplish this task. The article will first show the before-and-after effects, then follow the screenshot sequence to explain the operational logic of entering the function, importing files, checking records, and proceeding to the next step. After reading, you should clearly understand: this article addresses the issue of batch Excel file format conversion and how to use the software to batch convert Excel files like xlsx to xltm.
Applicable Scenarios: Template Library Organization, Report Standardization, and Batch File Archiving
The need for batch conversion to xltm typically arises in template management scenarios. For example, the administrative department needs to organize various forms into unified templates, the HR department needs to standardize attendance, onboarding, and training statistics sheets, the finance department needs to save budget, expense, and reimbursement sheets in template format, and the project team might need to centrally manage files like project plans, progress tracking, and resource statistics.
When there are only one or two files, using Excel's built-in "Save As" function is not complicated. But if the number of files increases to dozens or even more, each file needs to be opened, the save type selected, the path confirmed, and the file closed. These actions repeatedly consume time. More importantly, manual processing makes it difficult to guarantee complete consistency; some files might be converted to xltm, while others remain as xlsx, and some might be saved to the wrong directory.
The positioning of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool is as a batch office file processing software, with its core value lying in delegating repetitive, mechanical, and error-prone document operations to batch tasks. For tasks like "Excel to Xltm Conversion," the software uses list-based import and process-oriented handling to help users complete the format conversion of multiple spreadsheets at once.
Effect Preview: From xlsx Spreadsheets to xltm Template Files
Let's first look at the state before conversion. The screenshot shows a folder containing multiple Excel files, with names like 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 arrows and boxes emphasize the file extension as xlsx.
These files all appear to be template-type spreadsheets, but their current format is the regular Excel workbook xlsx. If business requirements dictate they should be maintained as macro-enabled template files, they need to be uniformly converted to xltm. Manual conversion requires repeating the operation for each file; batch conversion only requires adding them to the same task list.
The screenshot after conversion shows the original xlsx files have become xltm files. For example, Annual_Report_Template.xltm, Employee_Attendance_Template.xltm, Expense_Report_Template.xltm, Inventory_Management_Template.xltm, Marketing_Strategy_Template.xltm, Monthly_Budget_Template.xltm, Project_Plan_Template.xltm, Sales_Tracker_Template.xltm, and so on. The main part of the file name remains consistent, with the extension uniformly changed to xltm.
From the effect perspective, batch processing is suitable for format unification and template output. The clearer the before-and-after comparison, the more it reduces the workload for subsequent archiving and checking. Especially when file names are already named according to business meanings, keeping the main part of the original file name unchanged and only converting the format makes the results easier to identify.
Operational Steps: Batch Converting Excel Files to Xltm
Next, the specific steps will be explained according to the software operation screenshots. The top-left corner of the software interface used in this article displays " HeSoft Doc Batch Tool ", with the version interface in Simplified Chinese. During the operation, please try to organize the source file folder beforehand, which will make importing more convenient.
Step 1: Select Excel Tools in the Left Navigation Bar
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , first look at the left navigation bar. The software categorizes different types of office file processing functions, such as Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, Image Tools, etc. The subject of this task is Excel spreadsheets, so you need to enter "Excel Tools".
In the screenshot, "Excel Tools" is marked with a red box, indicating that this category should be clicked now. After clicking, the main area on the right will display batch processing function cards related to Excel. This categorization helps users quickly find the target function, avoiding searching back and forth among numerous office tools.
The operational purpose of this step is to enter the set of Excel file processing functions. The expected result is that multiple Excel conversion options appear on the right, preparing for selecting the xltm conversion function.
Step 2: Find and Click "Excel to Xltm"
On the Excel Tools page, you can see multiple conversion entries, such as Excel to JPG Images, Excel to Docx, Excel to PDF, Excel to Xls, Excel to Xlsx, Excel to Xlsm, Excel to Xltx, Excel to Xlam, Excel to Xlsb, Excel to HTML Web Pages, Excel to XML, etc. For this requirement, you need to select "13. Excel to Xltm".
The red box and prompt bubble in the screenshot point to "Excel to Xltm," indicating that this function is used to "batch convert Excel files to Xltm format." Note here that Xltm is a different Excel file format from xls, xlsx, xlsm, and xltx. Do not mistakenly select xlsm or xltx when choosing the function, otherwise the output format will not be the required .xltm.
The operational purpose of this step is to enter the correct batch conversion task. The expected result is that the "Excel to Xltm" page opens, displaying the file addition area and task flow.
Step 3: Use "Add Files" to Import Specified Excel Files
After entering the "Excel to Xltm" page, you can see the "Add Files" button at the top. If you only want to convert some Excel files, or these files are not in the same folder, you can use the "Add Files" method to add the spreadsheets that need processing into the task. When selecting files, you can use the system file selection window to select multiple files, thus reducing the number of repetitive additions.
"Add Files" is suitable for more refined processing scenarios, such as converting only a few specific template files, or needing to pick files from multiple project directories for unified conversion. After adding, the files will appear in the list at the bottom of the page, allowing users to further check names, paths, and extensions.
Step 4: Use "Import Files from Folder" to Batch Import a Whole Group of Spreadsheets
If the files to be converted are already centralized in one folder, using "Import Files from Folder" is more recommended. The red box at the top of the screenshot marks both "Add Files" and "Import Files from Folder," the latter being very suitable for batch processing scenarios. For example, if you first put all xlsx templates into a folder named "Test folder 4," you can import multiple files at once through the folder import.
8 records have appeared in the list below the screenshot, indicating successful file import. The table columns include Serial Number, Name, Path, Extension, Creation Time, Modification Time, and Actions. Through this information, users can clearly see which path each file comes from, what its current extension is, and whether it needs to be removed from the list.
The operational purpose of this step is to establish the batch conversion task list. The expected result is that all Excel files to be converted to xltm appear in the list, with a summary of the record count displayed at the bottom.
Step 5: Check Extensions and Paths, Confirm the Task List is Accurate
The biggest fear in batch file processing is "batch errors." Therefore, before clicking the next step, it is advisable to carefully check the list. In the screenshot, the extension for each row is xlsx, and the paths point to the corresponding files under C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Test folder 4\, indicating that these records all come from the same test folder and are all Excel workbooks that need to be converted.
If there are files in the list that do not need conversion, you can click the delete icon in the action column on the right to remove that record from the task. If you imported the wrong folder or the number of files is incorrect, you can use the "Clear" button at the top to start over. For batch office processing, spending a few extra seconds checking the list can often save a significant amount of rework time later.
The operational purpose of this step is to ensure the files the software will process fully match expectations. The expected result is that the task list only retains the Excel files that need to be converted to xltm.
Step 6: Click "Next," Set the Save Location, and Start Processing
After confirming the list is correct, click the "Next" button at the bottom of the page. The process bar in the interface shows that the current flow includes "Select records to process," "Set save location," and "Start processing." Therefore, the next step usually leads to the save location setting stage, used to determine where the converted xltm files will be output.
When setting the save location, it is recommended not to directly overwrite or mix with source files, especially when handling formal business materials. You can create a new output directory, such as "xltm output files," "Template conversion results," or a folder named by date. This has two benefits: first, it facilitates comparison with the original xlsx files; second, when the results need to be sent to colleagues or archived, the directory structure is clearer.
After completing the save location setting, enter the start processing phase according to the flow. After processing ends, open the output directory to check the result files. Under normal circumstances, the file extension will change from xlsx to xltm, while the main part of the file name remains the original business name, making it easy to identify the purpose of each template.
Frequently Asked Questions and Precautions
1. What is the xltm format, and how does it differ from xlsx?
xlsx is a common Excel workbook format, while xltm is the Excel macro-enabled template format. Simply put, xltm leans more towards template use and supports macro-related capabilities. In actual office work, if certain templates need to carry macros or automation logic, they might need to be saved in xltm format. Even if it's just for format unification, you should also spot-check the file content after conversion to ensure the business data and template structure meet requirements.
2. Do I need to close the Excel files before batch conversion?
It is recommended to close any relevant open Excel files before conversion. Although the screenshot does not show a file-in-use prompt, based on general experience with office file processing, file occupation may affect reading or writing. To reduce exceptions, it's best to close the source files first, then start the batch conversion task.
3. Can formats like xls or xlsm also be converted to xltm?
The function description in the screenshot says "batch convert Excel files to Xltm format," and does not explicitly limit processing to only xlsx. However, in the current example, the extensions shown in the import list are all xlsx. In actual use, if you need to process other Excel file formats like xls, xlsm, etc., it is recommended to test with a small batch first to confirm the software's recognition and output results meet expectations before performing large-scale conversions.
4. How to avoid losing files after conversion?
The most reliable method is to select a clear output folder during the "Set save location" phase and remember this directory before processing. Do not set the output directory too deep, and do not mix it with other project files. After conversion is complete, you can quickly check the results by filtering for the xltm file extension or by file name keywords.
5. What if the list is incorrect during batch processing?
If processing has not started yet, you can directly delete unwanted records from the list, or click "Clear" to re-import. If you've already entered subsequent steps, it's recommended to go back to the previous step to reconfirm. The advantage of batch processing is speed, but the premise is an accurate task list, so do not skip the checking step.
Summary: Delegate Repetitive Excel "Save As" Operations to a Batch Tool
Batch converting multiple Excel template files to xltm is essentially a typical office file batch processing requirement. Compared to manually opening each Excel file and saving it as, using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool can centralize the operation into a few clear steps: enter Excel Tools, select "Excel to Xltm," build a task list via "Add Files" or "Import Files from Folder," check names, paths, and extensions, click "Next" to set the save location, and finally start processing.
This method is particularly suitable for template library organization, report format standardization, project file archiving, and departmental data normalization. It reduces repetitive labor and makes the batch conversion process more controllable. It is recommended that you organize the source folder before formal processing and keep the original xlsx files; after conversion, spot-check a few xltm result files to confirm the content is normal. For users who frequently need to process office files like Excel, Word, PDF, PowerPoint, mastering this type of batch processing method can significantly improve the efficiency of daily document work.