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Converting Excel to CSV format during download from website

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  • 1 ana tatizo hili
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  • Last reply by Washoe01

Washoe01
Washoe01
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We utilize FireFox to access and download data from a specific vendor. This vendor recently changed the originating data format from CSV to Excel. These are large files and downloaded several times daily. Can FireFox default the new Excel format back to CSV during the download process without having to open and resave?

We utilize FireFox to access and download data from a specific vendor. This vendor recently changed the originating data format from CSV to Excel. These are large files and downloaded several times daily. Can FireFox default the new Excel format back to CSV during the download process without having to open and resave?

Chosen solution

Firefox does not know how to read XLS or XLSX format, so it cannot do any kind of useful conversion.

Does the URL of the download specify the format? For example, does it contain anything like format=xls or similar parameter you might be able to modify to get the format you prefer?

To compare an old download URL, find one of the CSV files in the downloads list (Ctrl+j or "Show All Downloads"), right-click, and Copy Download Link. Then you can paste that into a Word document or Notepad to compare parameters. Of course, if the site has changed, the old link might not work any more...

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jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Suluhisho teule

Firefox does not know how to read XLS or XLSX format, so it cannot do any kind of useful conversion.

Does the URL of the download specify the format? For example, does it contain anything like format=xls or similar parameter you might be able to modify to get the format you prefer?

To compare an old download URL, find one of the CSV files in the downloads list (Ctrl+j or "Show All Downloads"), right-click, and Copy Download Link. Then you can paste that into a Word document or Notepad to compare parameters. Of course, if the site has changed, the old link might not work any more...

Washoe01
Washoe01 Mwenye swali
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Thank you for the information. I will try modifying the parameter while we wait to hear back from the vendor on correcting the format back to CSV.

Thanks again!