When multiple Excel spreadsheets need to be submitted to business systems, databases, or data analysis tools, saving them individually as CSV is very inefficient. This article uses HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to explain how to convert a batch of xlsx files into csv files at once, and illustrates the conversion effect with before-and-after screenshots. The article focuses on applicable scenarios, file import, list checking, save location settings, and processing considerations, helping office users quickly complete standardized batch Excel-to-CSV tasks.
Many enterprises accumulate a large number of Excel spreadsheets in their daily office work: the sales department has sales details, the project team has task lists, the warehousing or product team has product lists, the customer service team has customer information, and the human resources department has employee salary sheets. Excel is suitable for manual maintenance and viewing, but when this data needs to enter business systems, databases, script programs, or third-party platforms, CSV is often a more universal exchange format.
The problem is that when there are many Excel files, manual conversion becomes repetitive labor. Each file needs to be opened, saved as, select the CSV format, confirm the save location, and then close the file; if there are dozens of files, the whole process is both tedious and error-prone. This article introduces a method more suitable for office scenarios: using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch convert multiple Excel spreadsheets into CSV files. The software is positioned for batch processing of documents and files, suitable for helping users reduce mechanical operations and improve file conversion efficiency.
Applicable Scenarios: Why Batch Convert Multiple Excel Spreadsheets to CSV
The advantage of CSV files lies in their simple structure and strong compatibility. They can be read directly by many systems and facilitate data exchange between different software. Compared to Excel workbooks like xlsx and xls, CSV usually does not rely on a complex office software environment and is more common in data import, interface transfer, and batch analysis.
The following scenarios are particularly suitable for using batch Excel to CSV conversion: First, at the end of the month, multiple department reports need to be converted to CSV and then uploaded to a unified data platform; second, operations personnel need to convert Excel lists for products, orders, customers, inventory, etc., into CSV for import into the backend; third, data personnel need to convert a batch of xlsx files into CSV and then hand them over to a program for cleaning and statistics; fourth, the team needs to convert Excel workbooks into lighter, text-based data files for easier archiving, sharing, or cross-system processing.
If only one file is processed, manual operation is still acceptable; but when the number of files increases, the value of batch processing becomes very obvious. The batch conversion capability of office software can merge repetitive steps into a single task, reducing labor operation costs.
Effect Preview: Batch Generating CSV Files from xlsx Files
Before Conversion: A Batch of Excel Workbooks Awaiting Processing
The pre-processing screenshot shows a set of Excel files with the .xlsx extension. These files include Sales Data.xlsx, Project Tasks.xlsx, Product List.xlsx, Order Records.xlsx, Meeting Notes.xlsx, Feedback Survey.xlsx, Employee Salaries.xlsx, Customer Information.xlsx, etc. From the file names, it can be seen that they may correspond to different business data such as sales, projects, products, orders, meetings, feedback, human resources, and customer information.
If these files are converted one by one, the same operation needs to be repeated for each workbook. Especially when the files come from the same folder, the most ideal way is to import all files at once and then convert them uniformly.
After Conversion: File Names Preserved, Format Changed to CSV
In the post-processing screenshot, the same batch of files has been changed to the .csv format, such as Sales Data.csv, Project Tasks.csv, Product List.csv, Order Records.csv, Meeting Notes.csv, Feedback Survey.csv, etc. The main body of the file names remains consistent with before conversion, only the extension changes from .xlsx to .csv.
This result is very friendly for subsequent work. Users can quickly identify the data content through the file names and directly hand over the CSV files to the target system or data processing flow. The significance of batch conversion is not just "format change," but more importantly, ensuring that multiple files are output according to unified rules.
Operation Steps: Completing Batch Excel to CSV in Office Software
Step 1: Open the Software and Enter the Excel Tools
After launching HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , the product name and version information can be seen at the top of the software, with tool category navigation on the left. Because this task is related to Excel files, you need to select "Excel Tools" on the left.
After selecting Excel Tools, multiple Excel-related function cards will appear on the right. In the screenshot, you can see functions like "Excel to PDF," "Excel to Xls," "Excel to Xlsx," "Excel to Txt," "Excel to HTML Web Page," "Excel to XML," etc. For the goal of this article, you need to click "8, Excel to Csv." The description below this card is "Batch convert Excel files to Csv format," which matches the requirement for batch generating CSV files.
The key to this step is choosing the right tool. There are many Excel-related conversion functions; if you mistakenly select Excel to PDF or Excel to image, the output format will not meet the data import requirements. Seeing "Excel to Csv" before proceeding to the next step ensures the task direction is correct.
Step 2: Import Files to be Converted or an Entire Folder
After entering the "Excel to Csv" function page, the software enters a step-by-step task interface. The top process display shows: 1 Select records to be processed, 2 Set save location, 3 Start processing. The current page is at Step 1, where the Excel files to be converted need to be added to the list first.
There are two main import buttons on the upper right of the page: "Add Files" and "Import Files from Folder." If you already know exactly which Excel files to process, you can click "Add Files" to select them; if all files to be converted are in a single directory, it is recommended to use "Import Files from Folder," which is more in line with the batch processing approach.
The list in the screenshot has already imported 8 files, and the software displays them as records. The table columns include serial number, name, path, extension, creation time, modification time, and actions. Users can view the file source path in the same interface, for example, files located in a Test folder directory on the desktop; you can also see the extension is xlsx, indicating that these files are Excel workbooks.
Step 3: Verify Pending Records to Avoid Converting Wrong Files
In batch tasks, verification after file import is very important. It is recommended to focus on checking three items: whether the file names belong to this task, whether the paths come from the correct folder, and whether the extensions are the Excel format that needs to be converted. The sample records in the screenshot include Customer Information.xlsx, Employee Salaries.xlsx, Feedback Survey.xlsx, Meeting Notes.xlsx, Order Records.xlsx, Product List.xlsx, Project Tasks.xlsx, Sales Data.xlsx, and the bottom shows the record count is 8, indicating the current task will process 8 files.
If you find a mistakenly imported file, you can remove it using the delete icon in the action column on the right side of each record; if the entire batch of files is imported incorrectly, you can click "Clear" at the top to reselect. The purpose of this is to eliminate problems before starting the conversion to avoid generating irrelevant CSV files.
Step 4: Proceed to the Next Step and Set the Output Location
After confirming that the pending records are correct, click "Next" at the bottom of the page. The software will enter Step 2, "Set save location." The save location determines which directory the converted CSV files will be output to, so it is recommended to choose a clear, independent folder.
For example, you can put the original Excel files in an "Original Data" folder and the output CSV in a "CSV Results" folder. This has two benefits: first, it avoids mixing original and new files, which can cause accidental deletion or misuse; second, it facilitates the subsequent unified submission of CSV files to a system, packaging and sending to colleagues, or handing over to a data processing program for reading.
Since the provided screenshot does not show the specific details of the save location page, the button names not displayed will not be elaborated upon. Users can complete the save directory setting by following the guidance of the software interface.
Step 5: Start Processing and Check the Conversion Results
After the save location is set, enter Step 3, "Start processing." After starting the conversion task according to the process prompts, the software will batch convert the Excel files in the list to CSV format. After processing is complete, open the output directory to check the results; you should see .csv files corresponding to the original files.
When checking, you can use the "main file name correspondence method": Sales Data.xlsx corresponds to Sales Data.csv, Order Records.xlsx corresponds to Order Records.csv, Customer Information.xlsx corresponds to Customer Information.csv. As long as the main file names are consistent and the extension becomes CSV, you can quickly confirm the conversion relationship. For cases with many files, you can also check by file count to ensure the number of output files is consistent with the number of imported records.
Frequently Asked Questions and Notes
1. Are xlsx and xls both considered Excel files?
Xlsx and xls are both common Excel file formats, with xlsx more common in newer Office versions and xls in older workbooks. When doing Excel to CSV, xlsx to CSV, or xls to CSV conversion, you should first confirm the input file types supported by the software's current tool. The file extension imported in the screenshot example is xlsx, and the conversion target is CSV.
2. Does CSV preserve formulas and formatting from Excel?
CSV primarily saves the data content within cells and is not used to preserve the workbook structure, multiple worksheet styles, colors, borders, formula editing states, etc., from Excel. The goal should be clear before conversion: if it is for system import and data exchange, CSV is usually suitable; if complex formatting or print layout must be preserved, CSV is not the best choice.
3. What should be noted when converting Excel files with multiple worksheets to CSV?
CSV is a tabular text format that typically corresponds to a single two-dimensional table structure. If the original Excel file contains multiple worksheets, complex merged cells, or descriptive content, it is recommended to check whether the data structure meets the requirements of the target system before conversion. The screenshots in this article mainly show the batch file format conversion process; specific data content still needs to be organized in advance by the user according to business standards.
4. Why is it recommended to set an output folder separately?
Batch conversion will generate multiple new files. If the output directory is mixed with the original files, it can lead to file identification difficulties. Setting a separate save location allows for a clearer distinction between "pre-processing Excel" and "post-processing CSV," and also facilitates subsequent batch uploading, compression, or archiving.
5. Can adjustments be made after files are imported?
As seen in the screenshot, the import list provides an action column on the right, and there is also a "Clear" button at the top. Therefore, before proceeding to the next step, users can check and adjust the pending records. It is recommended not to rush into starting the process; confirming the list's accuracy first can reduce rework.
Summary: Hand Over Repetitive Conversion to Batch Processing Tools
Batch converting multiple Excel spreadsheets to CSV files is a typical high-frequency office need. Whether it's xlsx to CSV, batch Excel conversion to CSV, or generating uniformly formatted data files for system import, the core goal is to reduce repetitive operations and ensure consistent output results.
When using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , the overall process is very clear: enter "Excel Tools," select "Excel to Csv," import the pending spreadsheets via "Add Files" or "Import Files from Folder," verify the list and click "Next," set the save location, and finally proceed to start processing. Compared to opening Excel files one by one to save as CSV, this batch processing method is more suitable for office scenarios with a large number of files, fixed task cycles, and results that need to be delivered uniformly.
If you often need to organize sales data, order records, product lists, customer information, or other Excel spreadsheets, it is recommended to incorporate this type of conversion task into a batch processing workflow. Organize the source folder first, then use the tool to output CSV uniformly, which can make file conversion more standardized and free up time from repetitive labor to use on more valuable data checking and business analysis.