xlsx-to-usv

Convert Microsoft Excel (XLSX) to Unicode Separated Values (USV). Built with the USV Rust crate.

Syntax:

stdin | xlsx-to-usv [options] | stdout

Example:

cat example.xlsx | xlsx-to-usv

More examples below.

Options

Options for USV separators and modifiers:

• -u, --unit-separator : Set the unit separator (US) string.

• -r, --record-separator : Set the record separator (RS) string.

• -g, --group-separator : Set the group separator (GS) string.

• -f, --file-separator : Set the file separator (FS) string.

• -e, --escape : Set the escape (ESC) string.

• -z, --end-of-transmission : Set the end of transmission (EOT) string.

Options for USV style:

• --style-braces : Set the style to use braces, such as "{US}" for Unit Separator.

• --style-controls : Set the style to use controls, such as "\u{001F}" for Unit Separator.

• --style-symbols : Set the style to use symbols, such as "␟" for Unit Separator.

Options for USV layout:

• --layout-0: Show each item with no line around it. This is no layout, in other words one long line.

• --layout-1: Show each item with one line around it. This is like single-space lines for long form text.

• --layout-2: Show each item with two lines around it. This is like double-space lines for long form text.

• --layout-units: Show each unit on one line. This can be helpful for line-oriented tools.

• --layout-records: Show each record on one line. This is like a typical spreadsheet sheet export.

• --layout-groups: Show each group on one line. This can be helpful for folio-oriented tools.

• --layout-files: Show one file on one line. This can be helpful for archive-oriented tools.

Options for command line tools:

• -h, --help : Print help

• -V, --version : Print version

• -v, --verbose... : Set the verbosity level: 0=none, 1=error, 2=warn, 3=info, 4=debug, 5=trace. Example: --verbose …

• --test : Print test output for debugging, verifying, tracing, and the like. Example: --test

Install

Install:

cargo install xlsx-to-usv

Link: https://crates.io/crates/xlsx-to-usv

Example

Excel and USV have similar data concepts:

Excel	USV
Workbook	File
Worksheet	Group
Row	Record
Cell	Unit

Suppose file example.xlsx contains this kind of data:

Worksheet 1
a,b
c,d

Worksheet 2
d,e
f,g

Run:

cat example.xlsx | xlsx-to-usv

Output:

Worksheet 1␟␞
a␟b␟␞
c␟d␟␞
␝
Worksheet 2␟␞
e␟f␟␞
g␟h␟␞
␝

If you prefer ASCII Separated Values (ASV) with zero-width character controls:

Run:

cat example.xlsx | xlsx-to-usv --style-controls

Output:

Worksheet 1\u{001F}\u{001E}
a\u{001F}b\u{001F}\u{001E}
c\u{001F}d\u{001F}\u{001E}
\u{001D}
Worksheet 2\u{001F}\u{001E}
e\u{001F}f\u{001F}\u{001E}
g\u{001F}h\u{001F}\u{001E}
\u{001D}

If you prefer to render markers with braces, to see the markers more easily:

cat example.xlsx | xlsx-to-usv --style-braces

Output:

Worksheet 1{US}{RS}
a{US}b{US}{RS}
c{US}d{US}{RS}
{GS}
Worksheet 2{US}{RS}
e{US}f{US}{RS}
g{US}h{US}{RS}
{GS}

For more, see the official repository:
Unicode Separated Values (USV)

FAQ

What converters are available?

• asv-to-usv & usv-to-asv

• csv-to-usv & usv-to-csv

• json-to-usv & usv-to-json

• xlsx-to-usv & usv-to-xlsx

When to use this command?

Use this command when you want to convert from XLSX to USV.

A typical use case is when you have XLSX data, such as a spreadsheet file, and you want to convert it to USV, such as to make the data easier to view in a terminal, or edit in a text editor, or maintain in a text format.

Our real-world use case is converting a bunch of XLSX spreadsheet exports from a variety of programs, including Excel, to USV so we're better-able to handle quoting, and multi-line data units, and Unicode characters in a wide variety of human languages.

Is USV aiming to become a standard?

Yes, USV is submitted to IETF.org as an Internet-Draft work in progress: link.

Can I build my own USV tools?

Yes, and you may freely use the USV RFC and USV Rust crate.

Help wanted

Constructive feedback welcome. Pull requests and feature requests welcome.

Tracking

• Package: xlsx-to-usv-rust-crate
• Version: 1.2.4
• Created: 2024-03-09T13:33:20Z
• Updated: 2024-04-11T18:32:40Z
• License: MIT or Apache-2.0 or GPL-2.0 or GPL-3.0 or contact us for more
• Contact: Joel Parker Henderson (joel@sixarm.com)