Short answer: No! Upload your Excel file directly. No conversion needed.
Our Excel to invoice generator accepts both XLS and XLSX files directly. You don't need to open Excel, you don't need to use "Save As," and you don't need to convert anything. Just upload your Excel file as-is.
Why No Conversion is Needed
CSV2Invoice handles Excel files natively. When you upload an Excel spreadsheet:
- Automatic processing: System reads Excel data directly
- No data loss: Preserves all your information accurately
- Time savings: Skip the manual conversion step entirely
- Error prevention: No risk of conversion mistakes
We built this feature specifically because we know Excel users want to work with Excel files, not jump through conversion hoops.
Benefits of Direct Excel Upload
- Save 5-10 minutes per upload (no conversion)
- Eliminate conversion errors and data loss
- Work with your native file format
- Both XLS and XLSX supported
- Keep your original Excel file intact
How It Works Behind the Scenes
When you upload your Excel file:
- Upload Excel directly: Choose your XLS or XLSX file
- Automatic data extraction: System reads your Excel data
- Column mapping: Map your Excel columns to invoice fields
- Invoice generation: Professional PDFs created instantly
The conversion happens automatically in the background. You never see it, you never deal with it, and you never have to think about it.
Why Other Tools Require CSV Conversion
Many invoice generators only accept CSV files because:
- CSV is simpler to parse (plain text format)
- Easier for developers to implement
- Avoids Excel file format complexity
But this creates friction for users who naturally work in Excel. We solved this by building native Excel support directly into our system.
What Happens to Excel Formulas?
When we process your Excel file:
- Formulas: We read the calculated values, not the formulas themselves
- Formatting: Data content is extracted (visual formatting is not used)
- Multiple sheets: We process the first sheet by default
- Hidden columns: Hidden columns are still read
This means your Excel file's complexity doesn't matter. We extract the invoice data you need.
Can I Still Use CSV If I Want To?
Yes! If you prefer to work with CSV files, you can upload those instead. CSV2Invoice supports both:
- Excel files: XLS and XLSX
- CSV files: Comma-separated values
Use whichever format works best for your workflow.
Common Excel to Invoice Workflow
Typical process for Excel users:
- Maintain invoice data in Excel spreadsheet
- Upload Excel file directly to CSV2Invoice
- Map columns once (system remembers)
- Generate PDF invoices in bulk
- Download ZIP file with all invoices
No conversion step anywhere in the process.
Technical Details
For those interested in how it works:
- We use server-side Excel parsing libraries
- Both binary (XLS) and XML-based (XLSX) formats supported
- Data extraction happens automatically during upload
- All processing is secure and privacy-first