The Tabular Transformation's "Convert XLSX to CSV" command was deprecated in November 2023 and replaced by the Microsoft Excel connector's "Worksheet to CSV" command. While the older command can still be used, it is less stable and may fail when handling larger file sizes.
The following article will show you how to update your existing chains to use the Worksheet to CSV command.
Note: The "Convert XLSX to CSV" command supports a maximum file size of 120mb.
Before you start
- The Microsoft Excel connector must be enabled in your workspace. This core connector is included with your subscription and is available to all users. If it is not already added, ask an Org Administrator to follow the steps listed in this article.
Update your chain
To update the commands in your chain, you will disconnect the "Convert XLSX to CSV" command and insert the "Worksheet to CSV" command in its place. You can then copy the inputs from the old node and paste them into the new one.
- Log into Chain Builder.
- Go to the Chains tab, and click Edit on the right for the chain you need to update.
- Locate the Convert XLSX to CSV command on your chain canvas. Double-click the first link connecting this command to the rest of the chain.
- Click Delete to remove the link.
- Repeat the previous step on the other side of the node. The "Convert XLSX to CSV" command should be disconnected from the rest of the chain.
- Drag the disconnected Convert XLSX to CSV command to the side of the canvas.
Note: Once disconnected, this command will no longer run. We will keep it on the canvas, however, as a reference point for the new command.
- In the Nodes panel on the left side, search for the Worksheet to CSV command.
- Drag and drop it into the gap on țhe canvas.
- Reconnect the chain by dragging the links to the new Worksheet to CSV command.
- Hover over the Worksheet to CSV command and click Edit .
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Enter the details of your Excel worksheet; you can open the orphaned "Convert XLSX to CSV" command on your canvas to retrieve these details. The new command and the old command use nearly-identical fields.
Property Detail Workbook file Enter the XLS or XLSX workbook with the sheet to convert to a tabular file.
Note: This is equivalent to the "Input files" field for the Convert XLSX to CSV command.
Password If the workbook file is a password-protected XLSX workbook, enter its password.
Note: This field is not available in the "Convert XLSX to CSV" command; with this update, you now have the ability to use secured workbooks.
Delimiter Select the delimiter to use in the output file. Sheet name Enter the name of the sheet in the workbook to convert. To instead identify the sheet by its index, leave blank. Sheet index Enter the index position of the sheet in the workbook to convert, with 1for the first sheet, and-1for the last. To instead identify the sheet by its name, leave blank.Start cell Enter the cell in both the first row and column of the sheet's data to convert. End column In A1 notation, enter the letter of the column—such as A, B, or C, without the row number—where the data to convert ends. Note: The command ignores any data in the sheet after this column.
End row In A1 notation, enter the number of the row—such as 10, 200, 3000, without the column letter—where the data to convert ends. To ignore the row, enter 0.Note: The command ignores any data in the column after this row.
Use formatted cell values To convert the cells' display values instead of their raw values, such as for date/time handling, check this box.
Note: This field is not available in the "Convert XLSX to CSV" command; with this update, you now have the ability to extract a formula (=SUM(A1:A23)) or the actual value (1234.56)
Preview results To enable a preview of the output file, check this box. Streaming Mode Enable this setting for files over 25mb. Reads the file in smaller windows of data to reduce memory usage. Some formulas, especially those referencing cells further away in the file, may not work correctly when this setting is enabled in conjuction with formatted values option - Click Save to finish.
Once saved, publish and run your new chain.
Feature comparison
These two commands are nearly identical in their inputs and function, and we strongly recommend copying values from the existing command into the new one. The following table shows the equivalent inputs for both commands.
| Convert XLSX to CSV inputs | Worksheet to CSV inputs |
| Input files | Workbook file |
| Delimiter | Delimiter |
| Sheet name | Sheet name |
| Sheet index | Sheet index |
| Start cell | Start cell |
| End column | End column |
| End row | End row |
| Password | |
| Formatted cells |
Please note that two additional inputs are included in the "Worksheet to CSV" command:
- Password: Allows you to provide secured workbooks.
- Formatted cells: Allows you to extract a formula (=SUM(A1:A23)) or the actual value (1234.56)
Troubleshooting
If the Worksheet to CSV command doesn't convert any data:
- Verify the name or index of the sheet within the workbook to extract data from.
- Ensure the cell range within the sheet—based on the command's Start cell, End column, and End row properties—contains data.