Convert Excel to Markdown using Python

Need to convert Excel files into Markdown for seamless integration into wikis, version-controlled docs, or static sites? Openize.MarkItDown offers an efficient, Python-based command-line solution to transform .xlsx or .xls spreadsheets into clean .md files.

Convert Excel to Markdown using Openize.MarkItDown

Why Convert Excel to Markdown?

Markdown is the backbone of modern documentation systems. Converting Excel files to Markdown format allows you to:

  • Embed spreadsheet content in static websites and Git repositories
  • Track changes in spreadsheets using version control (e.g., Git)
  • Easily edit tabular data with a plain-text editor
  • Automate document generation for reports or knowledge bases

Unlike binary .xlsx formats, Markdown tables are lightweight, human-readable, and easier to diff in collaborative workflows.

Manual Copy vs Markdown Automation

Copying Excel tables into Markdown manually is:

  • Tedious and error-prone
  • Often results in broken alignment or formatting
  • Hard to reproduce at scale

By using a structured tool like Openize.MarkItDown, you can automate Excel-to-Markdown conversion, retain table integrity, and eliminate repetitive formatting tasks.

What is Openize.MarkItDown?

Openize.MarkItDown is a Python-powered CLI tool that converts documents—including Excel spreadsheets—into Markdown. It leverages Aspose APIs for document parsing and a custom transformation engine for clean Markdown output.

Key Features

  • Supports .xlsx and .xls Excel formats
  • Preserves table layout in GitHub-compatible Markdown
  • Batch processing of folders or entire datasets
  • Customizable Markdown formatting via strategy pattern
  • Cross-platform: runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Getting Started

Install via PyPI:

pip install openize-markitdown-python

Or install from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/openize-com/openize-markitdown-python.git
cd openize-markitdown-python
pip install .

Convert Excel to Markdown (Command Line)

To convert a single Excel file into Markdown:

markitdown convert /files/data.xlsx --output /markdown/table.md

To batch convert a folder of .xlsx files:

markitdown convert ./resources/excel-files --output ./resources/md-files/

The CLI auto-generates .md files with aligned tables, sheet-wise or row-grouped, depending on the internal structure.

Example Use Case: Spreadsheet Publishing

If your team maintains operational data or metrics in Excel, automate publishing to Markdown for weekly reports or changelogs:

  1. Define Excel source path and Markdown destination.
  2. Initialize MarkItDown for format excel.
  3. Trigger the convert method to generate .md output.
  4. Use the output in blogs, reports, or Git-powered docs.

Minimal Python snippet:

from openize.markitdown import MarkItDown

converter = MarkItDown(format="excel")
converter.convert("resources/excel-files", "resources/md-files/")

Extended Capabilities

  • Modular design for easy extension (Word, PDF, PowerPoint)
  • Logging and graceful error handling
  • Plugin-based strategy customization
  • Separation of CLI vs API layers for advanced integration
  • Excel to Markdown conversion library available via API

FAQs

Q: Can I convert .xls as well as .xlsx files?
Yes, both legacy .xls and modern .xlsx Excel formats are supported.

Q: Are formulas or styles retained in the Markdown?
Markdown captures data content, not styling. Formulas are flattened into values during conversion.

Q: What about multi-sheet workbooks?
Each worksheet can be exported separately or combined into a single Markdown file with optional headers.

Q: Is the output Markdown GitHub-flavored?
Yes. Tables are rendered in GitHub-compatible syntax with proper alignment.

Q: Can I schedule this in my CI pipeline?
Absolutely. Add a script in GitHub Actions or any CI/CD workflow to automate Excel to Markdown export.

Final Thoughts

With structured tools like Openize.MarkItDown, converting Excel spreadsheets into Markdown becomes a repeatable and scalable task. Whether you’re managing documentation, automating content, or version-controlling datasets, Markdown is a cleaner and developer-friendly alternative to proprietary Excel formats.