Convert XLSX to CSV in Linux with Command Line in Linux

XLSX files are the standard format for modern Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, containing structured data organized in rows and columns. CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files are plain text files where data records are separated by commas, making them more portable and easier to process programmatically.

Converting XLSX to CSV in Linux can be accomplished using several command-line tools. This guide covers the two most effective methods: ssconvert from Gnumeric and libreoffice headless mode.

Method 1: Using Gnumeric ssconvert

The Gnumeric spreadsheet application includes a powerful command-line utility called ssconvert that handles various spreadsheet format conversions.

Installation

First, install Gnumeric on your system:

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt-get install gnumeric

macOS (using Homebrew):

brew install gnumeric

Basic Conversion

Convert a single XLSX file to CSV using the following syntax:

ssconvert input_file.xlsx output_file.csv

Example:

ssconvert Sample_XLSX.xlsx Sample_CSVFile.csv

Output:

Using exporter Gnumeric_stf:stf_csv

Verify the conversion by examining the CSV content:

cat Sample_CSVFile.csv

1,"Eldon Base for stackable storage shelf, platinum",Muhammed MacIntyre,3,-213.25,38.94,35,Nunavut,Storage & Organization,0.8
2,"1.7 Cubic Foot Compact ""Cube"" Office Refrigerators",Barry French,293,457.81,208.16,68.02,Nunavut,Appliances,0.58
3,"Cardinal Slant-D? Ring Binder, Heavy Gauge Vinyl",Barry French,293,46.71,8.69,2.99,Nunavut,Binders and Binder Accessories,0.39
4,R380,Clay Rozendal,483,1198.97,195.99,3.99,Nunavut,Telephones and Communication,0.58

Method 2: Using LibreOffice Headless Mode

LibreOffice provides a headless mode that allows batch conversion without opening the GUI application.

Single File Conversion

libreoffice --headless --convert-to csv input_file.xlsx

Batch Conversion

Convert all XLSX files in the current directory:

for i in *.xlsx; do libreoffice --headless --convert-to csv "$i" ; done

Before and After Example

Before conversion:

immukul@192 cc % ls -ltr
total 40
-rw-r--r--@ 1 immukul staff 5425 Jul 3 11:48 Sample_XLSX.xlsx

After conversion:

immukul@192 cc % ls -ltr
total 56
-rw-r--r--@ 1 immukul staff 5425 Jul 3 11:48 Sample_XLSX.xlsx
-rw-r--r--  1 immukul staff 1247 Jul 3 12:15 Sample_XLSX.csv

Comparison

Conclusion

Both ssconvert and LibreOffice headless mode provide reliable XLSX to CSV conversion in Linux. Choose ssconvert for lightweight, fast conversions, or LibreOffice for batch processing and broader format support. Both methods preserve data integrity while converting complex spreadsheet structures into simple comma-separated format.