XLS to DOTM Converter

Create macro-enabled DOTM templates from XLS online

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Macro-Ready Templates

Convert XLS data into a DOTM template that supports VBA macros — ideal for automating repetitive document workflows.

Works On All Platforms

Run the XLS to DOTM conversion from any device with a web browser — Windows, macOS, Linux, or mobile.

Encrypted Transfer

Files are transmitted securely. Uploaded XLS data is deleted immediately, and DOTM results are purged within 24 hours.

How to convert XLS to DOTM

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose dotm or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your dotm file right afterwards

About formats

XLS is the binary spreadsheet format of Microsoft Excel, first introduced with Excel 1.0 for Macintosh in September 1985 and becoming the dominant spreadsheet format worldwide. The format stores workbooks as OLE2 compound document files using the Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF), organizing sheets, cells, formulas, formatting, charts, pivot tables, macros, and metadata across multiple internal streams. Each cell record encodes the cell's value (number, string, boolean, error, or formula), position, and formatting index, while shared string tables and style records reduce redundancy. The format evolved through BIFF versions (BIFF2 through BIFF8), with BIFF8 (Excel 97) establishing the structure used through Excel 2003. XLS supports up to 65,536 rows and 256 columns per sheet, a limit that drove the creation of XLSX. One advantage is universal spreadsheet compatibility — XLS files are recognized by every major spreadsheet application including LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers, and dozens of programming libraries across all platforms. The format's mature feature set is another strength: XLS handles complex formulas, conditional formatting, data validation, named ranges, array formulas, external references, and VBA macros. Although XLSX replaced XLS as the default in Office 2007, the binary format persists in financial institutions, legacy reporting systems, and any environment where Excel 97-2003 compatibility is required.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: September 1985
DOTM is a macro-enabled template format for Microsoft Word, introduced with Office 2007 as part of the Office Open XML family. DOTM combines the template functionality of DOTX — providing reusable styles, page layouts, boilerplate content, and formatting definitions — with the ability to embed VBA macro code that executes in documents created from the template. The format is a ZIP archive containing XML parts for styles, document defaults, and theme definitions, plus a vbaProject.bin stream for the VBA project. This combination enables organizations to distribute not just visual consistency but also functional automation: every document created from a DOTM template inherits both the formatting framework and programmatic capabilities. Common use cases include templates that auto-populate document fields from corporate directories, enforce naming conventions, generate tables of contents, insert dynamic headers with project metadata, or validate document structure before submission. One advantage is embedded workflow automation — a DOTM template can include initialization macros that configure the document environment, register custom ribbon commands, and connect to data sources the moment a new document is created from it. The distinct .dotm extension allows administrators to apply differentiated trust policies for macro-containing templates versus standard DOTX files. DOTM is supported exclusively in Microsoft Word desktop editions where VBA execution is available.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: January 30, 2007

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert XLS to DOTM?

DOTM is a macro-enabled Word template — converting from XLS lets you build reusable document templates that can include automation scripts.

What opens DOTM files?

Microsoft Word 2007 and newer opens DOTM natively. LibreOffice Writer and WPS Office also support this macro-enabled template format.

How is DOTM different from DOTX?

DOTM supports embedded VBA macros for automation, while DOTX is a macro-free template. Choose DOTM when you plan to add macros later.

Is the conversion free?

Yes — XLS to DOTM conversion is free on convertio.tools. Premium options are available for higher volume and priority processing.

Is my spreadsheet data safe?

Completely. Your XLS file is erased from servers immediately after conversion, and DOTM outputs are removed within 24 hours.

XLS to DOTM Quality Rating

5.0 (2 votes)
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