Convert MPP to XLS

Mpp to xls file conversion

MPP is the native file format for Microsoft Project, while XLS is the older Excel workbook format. There is no built-in direct one-click conversion from MPP to XLS in Microsoft Project. In practice, you export project data to a spreadsheet-friendly format and then open or save it in Excel.

Important: MPP files can contain task links, calendars, resources, dependencies, baselines, and other project-specific data. When you move that data into Excel, the structure is usually flattened, so Excel is best for reporting, filtering, and analysis rather than for continuing project scheduling.

How to convert mpp to xls

1. Open the MPP file in Microsoft Project.

2. Use File → Export or File → Save As, depending on your version.

3. Choose a spreadsheet-friendly format such as CSV or, if available, an Excel Workbook export.

4. Open the exported file in Microsoft Excel.

5. If you specifically need .xls, use File → Save As in Excel and select the Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*.xls) format. Newer Excel versions usually default to .xlsx.

Alternative methods

If you do not have Microsoft Project, you can use third-party converters or online services that support MPP to Excel export. Check whether the tool preserves the fields you need, because many converters only export task lists and omit advanced project data.

Be careful with confidential files: online converters may upload your project data to external servers.

You can also try a project management tool that imports MPP and exports to Excel-compatible formats. Results vary, and exact formatting or scheduling logic is rarely preserved.

Things to keep in mind

.xls is an older format with lower limits than .xlsx, so .xlsx is usually the better choice for larger projects.

For cleaner output, export only the columns you need, such as task names, start dates, finish dates, durations, percent complete, and resource assignments.

If you only need a readable summary, exporting to PDF may be simpler than converting to Excel.