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TabularJS

npm version License: MIT Tests

A professional JavaScript library for converting spreadsheet files to JSON format. Supports 16+ file formats for use in Node.js and browser applications.

Features

  • 16+ File Formats - Excel, OpenDocument, CSV, Lotus, SYLK, DIF, DBF, HTML tables, and more
  • Universal JSON Output - Structured data format for any JavaScript application
  • Formula Preservation - Maintains formulas where supported by the format
  • Styling & Formatting - Preserves merged cells, styles, and comments
  • Zero Dependencies - No xlsx, no SheetJS - pure JavaScript implementation
  • Framework Agnostic - Works with Vanilla JS, React, Vue, Angular, and Node.js

Supported Formats

Format Extension Features
Excel 97-2003 .xls ✅ Formulas, ✅ Styles, ✅ Merged cells
Excel 2007+ .xlsx ✅ Formulas, ✅ Styles, ✅ Merged cells
OpenDocument .ods ✅ Formulas, ✅ Styles, ✅ Merged cells
Lotus 1-2-3 .wks, .wk1, .wk3, .wk4, .123 ✅ Data
CSV .csv ✅ Data
TSV .tsv, .tab ✅ Data
Plain Text .txt ✅ Data (tab-delimited)
XML Spreadsheet 2003 .xml ✅ Formulas, ✅ Merged cells, ✅ Comments
DIF .dif ✅ Data, ✅ Labels, ✅ Comments
SYLK .slk, .sylk ✅ Formulas, ✅ Data
dBase .dbf ✅ Data, ✅ Column types, ✅ Metadata
HTML Tables .html, .htm ✅ Formulas, ✅ Merged cells, ✅ Styles

Installation

npm install tabularjs

Quick Start

Browser

import tabularjs from 'tabularjs';

// Parse a file
const result = await tabularjs(fileObject);
console.log(result.worksheets[0].data);

Node.js

import tabularjs from 'tabularjs';

const result = await tabularjs('path/to/file.xlsx');
console.log(result.worksheets[0].data);

Command Line:

node src/script.js samples/test1.xml

Production Script Example:

import fs from 'fs';
import tabularjs from 'tabularjs';

const filePath = process.argv[2];

if (!filePath) {
    console.log('Usage: node script.js <path-to-file>');
    process.exit(1);
}

if (!fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
    console.error(`Error: File not found: ${filePath}`);
    process.exit(1);
}

try {
    const result = await tabularjs(filePath);
    console.log(JSON.stringify(result, null, 2));
} catch (error) {
    console.error('Error:', error.message);
    process.exit(1);
}

Example: Integration with Jspreadsheet

TabularJS is an independent file conversion tool. While it can be used with any application, here are examples showing integration with Jspreadsheet CE and Jspreadsheet Pro for creating online spreadsheets:

Vanilla JavaScript

<html>
<head>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/jspreadsheet-ce/dist/index.min.js"></script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/jspreadsheet-ce/dist/jspreadsheet.min.css" />
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/tabularjs/dist/index.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
    <div id="spreadsheet"></div>
    <input type="file" id="fileInput" />

    <script>
        document.getElementById('fileInput').addEventListener('change', async (e) => {
            const file = e.target.files[0];
            const result = await tabularjs(file);

            // TabularJS output is directly compatible with Jspreadsheet
            jspreadsheet(document.getElementById('spreadsheet'), result);
        });
    </script>
</body>
</html>

React

import { useRef } from 'react';
import jspreadsheet from 'jspreadsheet-ce';
import tabularjs from 'tabularjs';

export default function App() {
    const spreadsheet = useRef(null);
    const inputRef = useRef(null);

    const load = async (e) => {
        const file = e.target.files[0];
        const result = await tabularjs(file);

        // Create spreadsheet from imported data
        jspreadsheet(spreadsheet.current, result);
    };

    return (
        <>
            <div ref={spreadsheet}></div>
            <input
                ref={inputRef}
                type="file"
                onChange={load}
                style={{ display: 'none' }}
            />
            <input
                type="button"
                value="Load file"
                onClick={() => inputRef.current.click()}
            />
        </>
    );
}

Vue

<template>
    <div>
        <div ref="spreadsheet"></div>
        <input
            ref="inputRef"
            type="file"
            @change="load"
            style="display: none"
        />
        <input
            type="button"
            value="Load file"
            @click="$refs.inputRef.click()"
        />
    </div>
</template>

<script>
import jspreadsheet from 'jspreadsheet-ce';
import tabularjs from 'tabularjs';

export default {
    methods: {
        async load(e) {
            const file = e.target.files[0];
            const result = await tabularjs(file);

            // Create spreadsheet from imported data
            jspreadsheet(this.$refs.spreadsheet, result);
        }
    }
}
</script>

Formula Support

Format Formula Support Notes
XLS ✅ Full Decoded from BIFF PTG tokens
XLSX ✅ Full Native formula strings
ODS ✅ Full Native formula strings
XML 2003 ✅ Full Formula attribute
SYLK ✅ Full E parameter
HTML ✅ Partial Via data-formula attribute
CSV/TSV/TXT ❌ No Data-only format
DIF ❌ No Data-only format (stores calculated values)
DBF ❌ No Database format (stores calculated values)
Lotus ❌ Limited Complex token format

Scope & Limitations

TabularJS is designed as a lightweight parser focused on data extraction and essential spreadsheet features. The following advanced features are intentionally not supported:

Not Supported:

  • Charts and graphs
  • Pivot tables
  • Macros and VBA code
  • Images and embedded objects
  • Print settings and page breaks

Limited Support:

  • Advanced conditional formatting
  • Complex data validations

TabularJS prioritizes data, formulas, basic styling, and structural elements for web-based applications.

Testing

TabularJS includes comprehensive test coverage with 312+ test cases covering all supported formats.

Run Tests:

npm test

Test Coverage:

  • CSV/TSV parsing with edge cases
  • Excel (.xls, .xlsx) format validation
  • OpenDocument (.ods) structure
  • Legacy formats (Lotus, SYLK, DIF, DBF)
  • HTML table parsing
  • Formula preservation
  • Style and formatting extraction

Related Tools

TabularJS is part of a suite of JavaScript tools for building modern web applications:

Technical Support

For technical support and questions, please contact: support@jspreadsheet.com

Links

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MIT

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