xml to xls

[yqg]

Hello.

I have exported database data from my OCS conference and I'm trying to open the xml file in Excel. I wish to use the data in a mail merge.

Instead of First Name, Last Name, Address, etc. appearing in one row for each person, each column appears in a successive row. (i.e. First name appears in cell A1, Surname in B2, Address in C3, etc.)

Obviously, this isn't very useful for doing a mail merge in Word. Any suggestions?

[mj]

Hi Nicole,

How are you exporting your OCS data in XML? Are you using the import/export functionality within OCS, or are you doing it through another database tool (eg. phpMyAdmin)?

As a general rule, Excel doesn't import XML formats (aside from the misleadingly-named Office XML) -- likewise for Word. My suggestion would be to export directly to a CSV format if you're using another database tool (which Excel can read), otherwise you'll have to edit or copy-paste from the XML file directly into Excel or Word.

Hope this helps,

[yqg]

My apologies. I'd been struggling with this file for so long I guess I forget from where I exported it. It was from OJS, not OCS, if that makes a difference.

I've not had problems exporting from OCS in the past. Only, now with OJS.

[mj]

Hi Nicole,

What format have you been using when you export from OCS? If you can describe the process you've been using a bit more explicitly, I may be better able to help you do the same in OJS.

MJ

[yqg]

Hi MJ,
As I mentioned in my last post, the problem is actually OJS, not OCS. My apologies.
The problem is on this page:
Home > User > Journal Manager > Import/Export Data > Users XML Plugin
and I select Export All and save it as an xml file.

[mj]

Hi Nicole,

Yes, I understand the problem you're having is with OJS. They do have different export options. What I'd like to be able to understand is the process you were using in the past with OCS that was successful, so we can try to replicate it in OJS. OCS doesn't export Excel XLS files either, so I'm curious to understand what you were doing in the past that is different from what you're attempting now.

MJ

[yqg]

In OCS I go to Export Database Data select export table in XML. Then I save it as an xml file.
In OJS I right click on Export All and save as an xml file.

[mj]

Hi Nicole,

It seems that the difference you're encountering is that you're likely using an older version of OCS 1.x, whereas I suspect you're probably using a newer version of OJS 2.x. The old version of OCS did provide an option to export to XML and CSV -- the latter will load properly into Excel. However, the current OJS and OCS versions no longer include this feature. Once again, my suggestion would be to export to a CSV format using another database tool like phpMyAdmin, or copy-paste from the XML file directly into Excel or Word.

MJ