Getting started

This is the quick start guide for SpreadsheetConverter. We hope it will get you started converting Excel spreadsheets to live, calculating web pages.

Welcome to the SpreadsheetConverter Quick start guide. It contains the most basic things you need to know to get started with the program.

What do I need to use SpreadsheetConverter?

  1. You need a blog or web site where you can upload and publish the web pages you have created with SpreadsheetConverter, so that people can view them in their web browsers.
  2. You need a Windows PC with Microsoft Excel to create the spreadsheets that SpreadsheetConverter converts to web pages. For more information on technical requirements, visit the flavor comparison page.
  3. You need to download and install the SpreadsheetConverter add-on for Microsoft Excel according to the instructions below. You may test the program for free for 30 days. If you want to continue using the program or if you want to publish a converted web page, you must buy a license.

If you have any problems, continue with the help page for download problems.

How do I install SpreadsheetConverter?

  1. Navigate to the download page and download the appropriate version of SpreadsheetConverter.
  2. Select Open or Run to execute the installation program immediately after download.
  3. The installation process should start automatically. Otherwise, navigate to the folder containing the downloaded file and double-click on the file name.
  4. Carefully read through the license agreement displayed on the screen, then indicate that you accept its terms. If you don’t, please terminate the installation.
  5. The installation program suggests a default location for the program files. In most cases, you should accept the default location. If you are upgrading a previous installation, you must install the new version at the same location as the old version, or uninstall the old version first.
  6. During installation, the installer will offer to open the firewall for our built-in webserver. You must enable this to use Instant Testing, i.e. to see the result of a conversion directly in your development environment. The web server is also required if you want to use Live Preview to automatically convert the spreadsheet as you save new changes to it.
  7. When the installation of SpreadsheetConverter is completed, close the installation program.

If you have any problems, continue with the help page for installation problems.

How do I design a spreadsheet to look good as a web page ?

Read our comprehensive design guide to learn how to design web calculators for a global, mobile audience:

  • A large part of your users will be using their phones to use the web page.
    • Put the caption on top of each field, not to the left of it.
    • Arrange the sections of the calculator or form below each other, or on different tabs.
    • For wider examples, you must use responsive design to make the example fit also narrow screens.
    • As a desktop user, you may love to analyze data in wide tables with countless columns. This doesn’t work well on phones. You have many options.
    • Always test all your calculators with your own phone.
  • Assume your calculator or form will be used by an international audience.
    • Your calculator may need to handle both metric and US customary units.
    • Learn more about the differences in the formatting of date, time and numbers.
  • Use only colors that are as far away from each other as possible, using colors that are unambiguous also to colorblind persons.

How do I convert a spreadsheet to a web page?

  1. Ensure that Excel is started.
  2. Open the spreadsheet you want to convert.
  3. Select the SpreadsheetConverter menu in Excel’s menu bar.
  4. In the SpreadsheetConverter menu, click Convert.
  5. After conversion, a Messages tab appears in the task pane. Often, there are only informational messages.
  6. Normally, the generated web page is automatically opened in your default web browser. You can use the History list to open the converted web page in a web browser or in the Windows Explorer.
  7. Verify the results of the conversion. If you are unhappy with the results, you should consider modifying the original spreadsheet in Excel before you attempt to modify the converted web page.

For more detailed instructions, read the overview of the conversion process.

If you have any technical problems, continue with the help page for startup problems. Never hesitate to contact our Help Desk.

How do I publish a SpreadsheetConverter web page on the web?

  1. Use the Publish to Cloud function to upload the web page. It will give you an iframe that you can paste into the html of any blog or website. If you use the Node.js flavor, you can test the web page by uploading it to QuickNode instead.
  2. If you want the converted web page physically included in your own web site, transfer it to the same web server as the other web pages in the web site using file transfer, a site management utility or a content management system. This guarantees that the page is physically accessible when requested by one of the users of the web site.
  3. Link the page to the rest of your site. You will need at least one link to the page so that users can navigate to it.
  4. We have many useful tutorials about how to integrate a calculating web page with your existing blog or website.

Note: SpreadsheetConverter offers a free trial period. Publishing on the web is not included in the free functionality. You must have a paid license for SpreadsheetConverter before you publish converted spreadsheets on the web.