How to convert xls to xlsx using UI flow...

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Posted on by EdiSM

I used below flow to convert multiple xls files into xlsx files , but didn't work at all.

Actually is not converting the file in xlsx but into as you can see in the picture .

do you know what I did wrong ? or is another way to do it ?

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Power Automate Desktop

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eetuRobo 4,204 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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I recommend using dedicated Excel -actions

With Save Excel you could save it as .xlsx format

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EdiSM 52 on at

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I tried many times this way , but doesn't work , it not converts xls to xlsx , that's why i tried UI flow.

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eetuRobo 4,204 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Weird 🤔
What happens when you do that? Does it create just another xls file? Or does it not create any file at all? Or does it create broken file/file with no extension/unknown extension as in your first posts image seems to?

Just to make sure: after using Save Excel -action are you checking the new file it created and not the old xls one? The old .xls should still be there but there should be another file (where ever your action is setup to save it) that is in xlsx -format.

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VishnuReddy1997 2,656 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @EdiSM ,

Try this below solution.

Code:
Excel.LaunchExcel.LaunchAndOpenUnderExistingProcess Path: $'''C:\\Users\\\\Desktop\\Power Automate Desktop\\Projects\\TA_Report\\Macros\\inputexcel .xls''' Visible: True ReadOnly: False Instance=> ExcelInstance Excel.SaveExcel.SaveAs Instance: ExcelInstance DocumentFormat: Excel.ExcelFormat.OpenXmlWorkbook DocumentPath: $'''C:\\Users\\Desktop\\Notepad Files\\''' Excel.CloseExcel.Close Instance: ExcelInstance

(Note:- if you got your solution you can mark as solution and gives kudos)

Thanks & Regards
Vishnu Reddy

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EdiSM 52 on at

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Please take a look. I tried but not working.
For Close excel, you are using again save as ? or just save ? or not save ?

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eetuRobo 4,204 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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You should add .xlsx in the end.

Like so:

And in close Excel no need to save it again.

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VishnuReddy1997 2,656 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @EdiSM ,

Please change the Excel name or folder in save excel in Document Path option.Because you have same name excel in the same folder.
What error its throwing.Just share me the error screenshot.
In Close excel I am not keeping it as Dont not save document.

(Note:- if you got your solution you can mark as solution and gives kudos)

Thanks & Regards
Vishnu Reddy

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EdiSM 52 on at

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actually this flow what does? take the information from Xls and put it into the xlsx ( that you created ) right?
if so , then how to manage it when you have 20 xls in A folder ? what flow to create in order to take 1 by one and make them xlsx ?

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VishnuReddy1997 2,656 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @EdiSM ,

You need to Create 2 Folders For Input 1 Folder(FolderA) and For Output 1 Folder(FolderB).
Then just try the below code.
It will get all the files in FolderA.
Convert all the Files in Folder A in Xls to Xlsv in Folder B
Delete the Folder A Files and for Further use you can use Folder B files which are in .xlsx format.

Code:
Folder.GetFiles Folder: $'''C:\\Users\\\\Desktop\\Projects\\FolderA''' FileFilter: $'''*''' IncludeSubfolders: False FailOnAccessDenied: True SortBy1: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending1: False SortBy2: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending2: False SortBy3: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending3: False Files=> Files LOOP FOREACH CurrentItem IN Files Excel.LaunchExcel.LaunchAndOpenUnderExistingProcess Path: CurrentItem.FullName Visible: True ReadOnly: False Instance=> ExcelInstance Excel.SaveExcel.SaveAs Instance: ExcelInstance DocumentFormat: Excel.ExcelFormat.OpenXmlWorkbook DocumentPath: $'''C:\\Users\\Desktop\\Projects\\FolderB\\%CurrentItem.NameWithoutExtension%''' Excel.CloseExcel.Close Instance: ExcelInstance File.Delete Files: CurrentItem.FullName END

(Note:- if you got your solution you can mark as solution and gives kudos)

Thanks & Regards
Vishnu Reddy

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eetuRobo 4,204 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Use Get files in folder -action. That gives you a list of files in the specified folder. Then use For each -loop to go through each one and save them in .xlsx
Then optionally use Delete file(or Move file if you want to save them in another folder to archive them) to clear the folder from the old .xls files.

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