How to Convert XML to Excel: Step-by-Step Walkthrough

How to convert XML to Excel? You’re not alone if you’ve ever wrestled with messy XML files. XML is everywhere—from e-commerce product feeds to government datasets. But turning that data into something useful can be frustrating.

XML files are structured, but they’re not easy to read. Excel, on the other hand, is familiar and user-friendly. That’s why many turn to solutions on how to convert XML to Excel. Whether analyzing sales data or building dashboards, Excel gives you a cleaner, faster way to work.

Big businesses rely on accurate data transformation. A minor formatting issue can derail reports. If you work in finance, clean data isn’t optional. It’s essential. And with functions like trend analysis in Excel, your reporting doesn’t have to stop at tables. It can lead to better decisions.

There’s another benefit. Once your XML is in Excel, you can use a month-to-month comparison Excel chart to monitor growth or spot issues. This makes trends more visible and helps avoid blind spots.

So, how can you convert XML to Excel without losing structure or detail? This guide will show you how to bring structured data into Excel smartly.

No technical background needed. You only need a straightforward process, a little patience, and Excel’s built-in tools.

Ready? Let’s get rolling…

Why is Converting XML to Excel Important?

Are you tired of squinting at lines of XML code? Converting that data into Excel doesn’t just clean up the mess—it transforms how you work with it. Let’s break down why converting XML to Excel is more than convenience:

• Improves data accessibility and readability: XML is structured, but not user-friendly. Excel turns that structure into readable tables, making your data easier to explore and understand.
• Simplifies data analysis: You can’t run formulas or create visuals in XML. Once in Excel, you can apply data analysis in Excel to spot trends and patterns quickly.
• Enhances data sharing and collaboration: Sharing XML files with non-technical teammates can be confusing. Excel files, on the other hand, are familiar and easier to work with across departments.
• Facilitates data cleaning and editing: XML isn’t built for quick edits. On the other hand, you can clean up entries, correct errors, or apply filters in seconds using Excel.
• Supports data integration with other tools: Excel plays well with many platforms, letting you connect data from different sources. This makes it easier to prepare inputs for dashboards and use custom Excel charts to visualize them.
• Saves time and reduces errors: Pulling data from XML is slow and error-prone. Excel automates much of this process, cutting down mistakes and saving hours.

Top 5 Charts can be created after converting the Data XML to Excel

The charts below were created in Excel using ChartExpo:

Sankey Chart:

Multi Axis Line Chart:

Stacked Waterfall Chart:

Slope Chart:

Comparison Bar Chart:

How Many Ways to Convert XML to Excel?

Have you ever opened an XML file and felt lost? You’re not alone. XML is great for machines, not so much for humans. But Excel can fix that, and there’s more than one way to bring structure to that chaos.

Here are the most effective ways to convert XML into clean, workable spreadsheets.

1. Open the XML File directly in Excel: This is the fastest option. Open Excel, go to “File” → “Open” → select your XML file. Excel will prompt you to open it as an XML table. It’s simple, but it works best with well-formed XML.
2. Import XML using the developer tab: This gives you more control. First, enable the Developer tab under Excel options. Then use the “Import” command to map XML elements to cells. This method is solid if your data has a consistent schema and you want to preserve structure.
3. Use Power Query to import XML: Power Query is Excel’s hidden powerhouse. It’s flexible and can handle complex data. Load your XML, shape it, filter it, and load it into your sheet. It’s ideal if you’re doing advanced data analysis in Excel or prepping files for automation.

How to Convert XML to Excel?

You’ve got an XML file and you need it in Excel—fast. Let’s make it practical – no guesswork, no stress.

Your XML file data looks something like this:

• Open Excel and go to the “data” tab: Navigate to Data → Get Data → From File → From XML to begin importing.

• Select your XML File: Browse to your XML file location and click Import to load it into Excel.

• Transform the data (optional): Use Power Query Editor to expand nested XML nodes and shape the data into a table format.

• Load the data into Excel: Click “Close & Load” to insert the transformed data into your Excel worksheet.

How to Visualize Data After Converting XML to Excel?

Data analysis needs more than tables and basic bar charts – it needs clear, insightful visuals. XML is structured, but not visual, and Excel helps make sense of that data. But let’s be honest—Excel charts can be underwhelming. It requires clear, compelling visuals that tell a story.

That’s where ChartExpo—a powerful chart add-in for Excel steps in. It takes your converted XML data into stunning, insightful visuals. This tool is fast, flexible, and requires no coding.

How to Install ChartExpo in Excel?

1. Open your Excel application.
2. Open the worksheet and click the “Insert” menu.
3. You’ll see the “My Apps” option.
4. In the Office Add-ins window, click “Store” and search for ChartExpo on my Apps Store.
5. Click the “Add” button to install ChartExpo in your Excel.

ChartExpo charts are available both in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Please use the following CTAs to install the tool of your choice and create beautiful visualizations with a few clicks in your favorite tool.

Example

Let’s visualize and analyze this sample data in Excel using ChartExpo.

Phases	Task	Status	Assigned	Complete (%)
Phase 1	Market research	Completed	John	100
Phase 1	Gather Data	Completed	Steve	100
Phase 1	Create Budget	Completed	Rita	100
Phase 2	Create Plan	In Progress	Steve	34
Phase 2	Hire Workers	In Progress	Rita	42
Phase 2	Schedule Work	In Progress	Steve	89
Phase 3	Product req.	In Progress	Thomas	74
Phase 3	Product Assembly	Delayed	Rita	59
Phase 3	Translation	Delayed	Steve	43
Phase 4	Advertising	In Progress	John	80
Phase 4	SEO Campaign	On Hold	Thomas	81

• To get started with ChartExpo, install ChartExpo in Excel.
• Now, click on My Apps from the INSERT menu.

• Choose ChartExpo from My Apps, then click Insert.

• Once it loads, choose the “Sankey Chart” from the charts list.

• After clicking on the chart, you will see the Sankey Chart on the screen.

• Click the “Create Chart From Selection” button after selecting the data from the sheet, as shown.

• ChartExpo will generate the visualization below for you.

• If you want to have the chart’s title, click Edit Chart, as shown in the above image.
• Click the pencil icon next to the Chart Header to change the title.
• It will open the properties dialog. Under the Text section, you can add a heading in Line 1 and enable Show.
• Give the appropriate title of your chart and click the Apply button.

• You can disable the Numbers as follows:

• You can add color in Nodes and set the direction as follows:

• Click the “Save Changes” button to persist the changes.

• Your final chart will appear as follows.

Insights

• Phase 1: Fully completed.
• Phase 2: In progress; scheduling is nearly complete.
• Phase 3: Delayed due to assembly and translation issues.
• Phase 4: Advertising is 80% complete.
• The SEO campaign is 81% complete, but is currently on hold.

Advantages of Opening an XML File in Excel

Have you ever tried reading raw XML? It’s like staring at organized chaos—rows of tags, nested elements, and no clear formatting. But when you open that file in Excel, everything suddenly makes sense.

Excel doesn’t just clean it up. It gives your data a new life, and here’s how:

• Easy data interpretation: No more scrolling through lines of code. Excel organizes XML into readable tables. You can spot patterns when using a chart add-in for Excel to visualize key data points.
• User-friendly interface: It’s built for users who want to get things done quickly. Columns, rows, filters—everything works the way you expect.
• Built-in tools for analysis: Once your XML is in Excel, you can run formulas, build pivot tables, or create custom Excel charts with ease. This lets you move from raw data to insights in minutes.
• Editing and data management: Do you need to change a value? Remove duplicates? Or fix formatting? Excel makes it simple. You don’t need to mess with code. You can click, edit, and move on.
• Easy sharing and reporting: You can share files, add notes, or even build a quick progress bar in Excel to track project status or data completeness.

Tips for Converting an Excel Sheet to XML

Turning an Excel sheet into XML without a mess is not as simple as hitting “Save As”. You need a plan to get clean, structured XML, and Excel gives you the tools. But how you use them matters. Follow these tips to achieve a seamless conversion:

• Create an XML schema (XSD) first: An XML schema defines the structure of your data, including what tags to use and in what order. Without it, Excel won’t know how to correctly map your content during export.
• Use a single table format: Excel exports best when your data is in a clean, single-table layout with no blank rows or merged cells. This format also helps later if you want to apply a month-to-month comparison Excel chart.
• Map XML elements using the developer tab: Turn on the Developer tab and open the XML Source pane to drag schema tags onto your table. This step tells Excel which parts of your data should be converted into XML elements.
• Export correctly: Use Developer → Export to save your file in XML format. Excel will only export the data that’s been mapped, so skip this step, and your file might be empty.
• Validate the XML File: Once exported, check the XML with a validation tool to ensure it follows your schema’s rules. This step helps prevent compatibility issues when integrating with other platforms.

FAQs

Can I parse XML in Excel?

Yes, you can parse XML in Excel. Use the Developer tab or Power Query to import the file. Excel will break it into rows and columns, which helps with data analysis and reporting.

Can I edit an XML File in Excel?

Yes, you can edit XML in Excel:

• Open the file as an XML table.
• Make your changes directly in the cells.
• Export it back using the Developer tab. This is useful before creating custom Excel charts.

Wrap Up

Converting XML to Excel makes your data usable. XML is great for structure, but hard to read. Excel turns that structure into something clear. Tables, rows, and filters make everything easier to understand.

Once in Excel, you can do more than read your data. You can sort, search, and apply formulas. This is key to making informed decisions and helps prepare for deeper analysis.

Want to visualize trends? Learn how to create a chart in Excel. Line charts, bar charts, and scatter plots are all a few clicks away. These help bring your data to life.

Need to present reports? Use financial graphs and charts in Excel. They show growth, losses, and forecasts. It’s how raw data turns into boardroom insights.

Got overlapping metrics? No problem. Excel can handle that, too. You can learn how to show overlapping data in Excel using combo charts and secondary axes.

Converting XML to Excel is the first step, but what comes after is even more powerful. With Excel’s tools, you can analyze, visualize, and communicate your data better – install ChartExpo for advanced charts.