Convert ODS to XLS — Free Online Converter
Convert OpenDocument Spreadsheet (.ods) to Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (.xls) online for free. Fast, secure document conversion with no watermarks or registration.
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How to Convert
Upload your .ods file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .xls file when it's ready.
About ODS to XLS Conversion
ODS (OpenDocument Spreadsheet) is the ISO-standardized open format for spreadsheet data. XLS is the legacy Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF8) from Microsoft Excel 97-2003. Converting ODS to XLS produces a binary spreadsheet file compatible with Excel 97 through 2003 and with legacy software systems that were built to process the BIFF binary format exclusively.
This conversion is a backward compatibility operation. While the industry has largely moved to XLSX, significant numbers of legacy systems — industrial control software, older ERP modules, government systems built before 2007, and automated data processing pipelines — still require XLS input. Converting ODS to XLS is the bridge between the open-source office suite and these older Microsoft-centric systems.
Why Convert ODS to XLS?
Legacy enterprise systems built before 2007 were programmed to parse the BIFF8 binary format. These include custom inventory management tools, older versions of SAP reporting modules, manufacturing execution systems, and government IT infrastructure that has not been modernized. When data originates in LibreOffice Calc and must feed into these systems, XLS is the only accepted format.
Some organizations also maintain XLS as their standard for maximum backward compatibility across their entire IT estate. Machines running Windows XP with Office 2003, field laptops with restricted software installations, and air-gapped industrial workstations may only have access to applications that support the legacy XLS format.
Common Use Cases
- Feed LibreOffice Calc data into legacy ERP systems requiring XLS binary format
- Share spreadsheets with organizations still running Microsoft Office 2003
- Prepare data exports for industrial control systems with XLS-only import
- Generate XLS files for automated reporting workflows that parse BIFF8 format
- Ensure spreadsheet compatibility with air-gapped systems running legacy Windows
How It Works
The conversion engine uses LibreOffice in headless mode to parse the ODS XML package and serialize it as a BIFF8 binary workbook. Cell values, formulas (translated from ODF syntax to Excel syntax), number formats, cell styles, and basic charts are mapped to their XLS equivalents. Data exceeding XLS limits (65,536 rows, 256 columns) is truncated. ODS features without BIFF8 equivalents are simplified or removed.
Quality & Performance
Standard cell data and basic formatting convert accurately. ODS-specific features — regex conditional formatting, complex data validation with custom formulas, and advanced chart types — may be simplified for XLS compatibility. Conditional formatting is limited to three rules per range in XLS. File sizes typically increase because the XLS binary format lacks the ZIP compression present in ODS.
Device Compatibility
| Device | ODS | XLS |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1Check dataset size before converting — rows beyond 65,536 and columns beyond 256 will be lost
- 2Replace ODS-specific functions with Excel-compatible equivalents before converting
- 3Test the XLS output in the target legacy system to verify it imports correctly
- 4Keep the original ODS as the master file — XLS is a reduced-feature export
- 5Convert to XLSX instead if the target system supports it — XLSX preserves more features than XLS
Related Conversions
ODS to XLS conversion enables LibreOffice users to produce legacy-compatible binary spreadsheets for systems that require the Microsoft Excel 97-2003 format.