Скачать или смотреть Convert Excel (xls) Files to Text with a Free Unix Command Line Tool

Learn how to convert Excel (xls) files to text format using a free command line tool in Unix/Linux. Simplify your data processing with this efficient solution.
---
Disclaimer/Disclosure - Portions of this content were created using Generative AI tools, which may result in inaccuracies or misleading information in the video. Please keep this in mind before making any decisions or taking any actions based on the content. If you have any concerns, don't hesitate to leave a comment. Thanks.
---
Convert Excel (xls) Files to Text with a Free Unix Command Line Tool

Working in Unix or Linux environments often requires handling data in various formats, including Excel files (xls). However, there may be situations where you need to convert these xls files into plain text for easier data manipulation or processing. Thankfully, there are free command line tools available in Unix/Linux systems that can help you achieve this efficiently.

One such reliable and free tool is xls2csv. This tool allows you to convert Excel files directly into CSV (Comma Separated Values) format, a type of text format easily readable and manipulable by other text processing tools.

Why Convert xls to Text?

Converting xls files to text format can be useful for several reasons:

Simplicity: CSV files are simpler and more portable compared to binary Excel files.

Automation: Unix/Linux shell scripts can handle and process text files more easily.

Compatibility: Many data processing tools in Unix/Linux environments work better with text files.

Using xls2csv

The xls2csv tool is part of the catdoc package, which you can typically install through your system's package manager. Below are the steps to install and use xls2csv:

Installation

For Debian-based systems (such as Ubuntu):

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

For Red Hat-based systems:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conversion Process

Once you have the tool installed, converting an xls file to text is straightforward. Use the following command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this command:

input.xls is the original Excel file you wish to convert.

output.txt is the resulting text file.

This simple command will save the content of your Excel file in a plain text format, making further data processing a breeze.

Conclusion

Using the xls2csv tool to convert Excel files to text format in Unix/Linux systems is an easy and efficient solution. Whether you're looking to simplify your data processing tasks or increase compatibility with other tools, this free command line tool can meet your needs without any cost. Start leveraging this powerful utility to streamline your data handling processes today.