How to automate converting Excel xls files to Excel xml format?

Question

I have about 200 Excel files that are in standard Excel 2003 format.

I need them all to be saved as Excel xml - basically the same as opening each file and choosing

Answer 1

Here is a routine that will convert all files in a single directory that have a .xls extension.

It takes a straight forward approach. Any VBA code in a workbook is stripped out, the workbook is not saved with a .xlsm extension. Any incompatability warning are not dislayed, instead the changes are automatically accepted.

Sub Convert_xls_Files()

Dim strFile As String
Dim strPath As String

    With Application
        .EnableEvents = False
        .DisplayAlerts = False
        .ScreenUpdating = False
    End With
'Turn off events, alerts & screen updating

        strPath = "C:\temp\excel\"
        strFile = Dir(strPath & "*.xls")
'Change the path as required

    Do While strFile <> ""
        Workbooks.Open (strPath & strFile)
        strFile = Mid(strFile, 1, Len(strFile) - 4) & ".xlsx"
        ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs Filename:=strPath & strFile, FileFormat:=xlOpenXMLWorkbook
        ActiveWorkbook.Close True
        strFile = Dir
    Loop
'Opens the Workbook, set the file name, save in new format and close workbook

    With Application
        .EnableEvents = True
        .DisplayAlerts = True
        .ScreenUpdating = True
    End With
'Turn on events, alerts & screen updating

End Sub