RunConvert

FODS to XLS Converter

Convert FODS to XLS online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

Free to useNo file stored beyond 1 hourEncrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3No watermarks

Like RunConvert? Set us as a preferred source on Google.

Add to Preferred Sources

How it works

Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

01

Upload your file

Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

02

Choose an output format

Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

03

Convert & download

Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

What is a FODS file?

The FODS format is the Flat XML implementation of the OpenDocument Spreadsheet standard (ISO/IEC 26300). Unlike the standard ODS format, which utilizes a ZIP-compressed container holding multiple XML manifests and assets, FODS stores the entire spreadsheet document-including content, styles, and metadata-within a single, uncompressed human-readable XML file. This structure facilitates version control (e.g., Git) and direct XML manipulation via XSLT transformations without the need for decompression.

How to open a FODS file

FODS files are natively supported by the LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice suites, which utilize the underlying OpenDocument structure. They can also be opened in any text editor or XML parser for code-level inspection. Microsoft Excel requires third-party plugins or ODF converters to correctly interpret the Flat XML schema.

FODS Technical Info

Full Name
Flat OpenDocument Spreadsheet
Developed By
OASIS Consortium
Initial Release
2005
MIME Type
application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet-flat-xml

What is an XLS file?

The XLS format utilizes the Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF) scheme, serving as the default spreadsheet standard for Microsoft Excel from versions 2.0 through 2003. Encapsulated within the Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) Compound File Binary Format (CFBF), XLS files store data in binary streams rather than XML. This proprietary structure supports formulas, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macros, and charts but lacks the compression efficiency and corruption resilience of the newer XML-based standards.

How to open an XLS file

Microsoft Excel remains the primary software for full fidelity access to XLS files. On Windows and macOS, the operating system associates these files with the Office suite if installed. Alternatively, open-source solutions like LibreOffice Calc and Gnumeric provide robust reverse-engineered support for reading and editing XLS binaries on Linux and other platforms without requiring Microsoft licenses.

XLS Technical Info

Full Name
Excel Binary File Format
Developed By
Microsoft
Initial Release
1987
MIME Type
application/vnd.ms-excel

Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

Convert FODS to XLS in seconds

Every FODS to XLS conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

Fast, cloud-powered

No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

Secure & private

Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

Free - no account needed

Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.

Developer API

Convert FODS to XLS via API

Automate FODS to XLS conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "fods-to-xls",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "output_format": "xls"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.fods

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.