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Utitlity to convert Excel formats?

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by charliespencer

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I'm looking for a tool to mass convert Excel files from the Excel 97 format to the Excel 2003 format. The newer format takes up much less space, but I obviously don't want to open several thousand files and resave them one at at time.

6 replies

by dawgit

The direction I'm thinking is with Open Office / Star Office. You would have to have a computer (I would suggest a seperate computer for this) with out SO/OO or MS Office installed, Copy all the files (the '97 versions) on an appropriate medium CD/DVD/HD, import to the new computer, Install SO/OO let it do the conversion, than export back to the computer with the 'New' version of Excel (2003)

I know it sounds like a "Rube-Goldberg" method, But the price will be right. (an out-sourced method can realy get expensive, depending on the volume)

There must be a way to do a batch conversion useing a "Visual___ something" floating around at MS. But, if there is, it wouldn't be as much of a hassel for people as it is now. Say 'thank-you MS'. X-( -d

by charliespencer

Are you saying OO / SO will do a batch conversion without my having to open each file individually? Would this be from a command line?

by dawgit

Not officially. But when you install SO/OO it ask you if you want to convert any (MS) office files at that time. (a side effect if it were medicene) I'm not sure on the Exporting part, I've only had to do a few at a time. It promts (drop-down menue) as to what file format you wish to save the files. There might be a batch file as well, but I'd have to chech the Sun Site. (I do remember it coming up though.) -d

by dawgit

on my Star Office, Drop down from 'File', -> AutoPilot -> Document Converter--- Select Type of Document for conversion -> Microsoft Office -> Excel Documents

[Next]

Templates Check+Check, from where (location= C:~) to (location x)

Documents Check+Check, from where (location) to (location)

(does directory exist? create one now?)

you'll see a brief summery in a text box, all nice and Documented, then click on

[Convert]

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I could have done it in less time than I took to write about it. -d

by locolobo

We didn't find a batch converter either. So we individually converted our templates (20 or so) to 2003 then only converted the individual spreadsheets as we opened them. Basically we trained the users that when they opened a spreadsheet to save it in Excel 2003 format. Some of the older stuff is still in 97 format.

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