The «ß-XML» project aims to simplify the transfer of data between spreadsheets and XML files. It operates as a script that reads spreadsheets formatted in a specific way and generates the corresponding XML file as output, and it can also convert XML files back into spreadsheets. (The first release will be beta and not include the latter module.)

The script modules embedded in each document (Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, and Google Sheets) are identical, varying only in their adaptations for their respective applications. This allows users to easily migrate from one application to another.

The script has been tested on Microsoft Excel 2013, LibreOffice Calc 25, and Google Sheets in 2025.

Background:

This project marks a significant improvement over the previous «xls2kml» script, which enabled Google Earth users to confidently convert their data into KML files. The upgrade not only streamlines the conversion process but also enhances the overall user experience. Users can now enjoy a smoother interface, without limitations on the number of XML elements that can be included, and they can both create their own XML files beyond just KML and do the reverse process, as well.

Important information before reviewing the documentation:

The project can be used immediately, without any need for adjustments. The provided sample sheets serve as a helpful guideline while the user enters their data and XML elements. However, since the project offers flexibility while adhering to strict guidelines, users are strongly encouraged to review the documentation and not be content with reviewing "Section 6". This will help them discover various practical applications and understand the full potential of the script.

Attention:

• Users should be aware of the limitations of the applications (Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, and Google Sheets) they use regarding the amount of data that can be held in individual cells. While data may appear correctly when entered or pasted into cells, it can become truncated after switching to another cell, saving the document, or closing it. To address this issue, the «ß-XML» project allows users to point to text files to load data. This method protects longer data and improves document processing speed. With this method, the script retrieves information from text files and loads them into XML nodes, rather than relying on the cell contents within the sheet.

• Running the script on devices with limited resources and slow performance can hinder efficiency. Users working with large datasets in sheets to create XML files should gradually increase their data volume and consider splitting their data into multiple sheets if their device struggles to handle the workload effectively. They can later combine the XML files created using text editors or similar tools.

• Users must keep in mind that attribute values in XML files must be enclosed in straight double-quote characters. Therefore, the script converts all double-quote characters in the "dataset" to "&quot"s. It cannot be guaranteed that every application that will read the XML file will interpret this character correctly.

• Users must also ensure that the application has not, to comply with spelling rules, changed their lower-case letters to upper-case equivalents after confirming the cell content and exiting. Users can disable the "auto-correct" feature of the application at ease.