Convert AI File to Excel with In-depth Working Tutorial

  Mark Regan
Mark Regan
Published: March 17th, 2025 • 5 Min Read

Do you need to convert AI file to Excel and are searching for the most optimal solution? If yes, then this technical column has all the necessary information that you need to overcome your problem. Illustrator files are the most design files that may contain tables, charts, structured information, etc. Export Illustrator to Excel is the only way to make the AI file data representable in a structured format. Let us start the discussion of this step-by-step guide by understanding the common reasons behind AI to XLS conversion.

Common Reasons to Export Illustrator to Excel

For Extracting Numerical Data from Illustrator File: The Adobe Illustrator files sometimes store charts and numerical data. To manage it in a better manner Excel is the best recommended application. It helps in sorting, filtering, and further calculations. Therefore, several times users often required to convert AI file to Excel format.

For Organizing AI Files Structured Data: If an Illustrator file contains tables, labels, or structured text. Excel offers a more reliable approach to manage structured data. Excel allows users to better manage the Illustrator tabular data. Therefore, users often require to export an Illustrator file in Excel.

Sharing Data with Non-Illustrator Users: Not everyone among the clients has access to Adobe Illustrator. While on the other hand Excel is a globally generic application used for collaboration purposes. Therefore, users often convert AI files to Excel.

Convert AI File to Excel Using Adobe Illustrator

If you already have a license version of Adobe Illustrator and are looking for a direct approach to convert AI file to Excel. Then, there is no direct AI to XLS export option offered by the utility. However, it can be done in a quick two phases. First, we need to export the Illustrator file to WMF using Adobe Illustrator. After that, we can use Excel’s insert functionality to insert the exported WMF file to Excel. That is how we can convert AI to Excel using Adobe Illustrator. Now let us discuss the working step to understand this approach easily.

How to Export Illustrator to Excel Format? Working Steps

Phase 1: Export AI File to WMF (Windows Meta File) Format

  1. Initially, launch the Adobe Illustrator application on your PC.
  2. Next, open the AI file you need to convert to Excel format.
  3. Then, go to the File tab and click on Export >> Export As.
  4. After that, choose the saving type as WMF from the drop-down menu.
  5. Finally, store the exported Illustrator file in WMF format.

Phase 2: Insert WMF File to Excel

  1. First, run Microsoft Excel on your computer.
  2. Now, choose Blank Workbook and go to Insert tab.
  3. After that, click on Pictures >> Insert from this device.
  4. Thereafter, choose the Illustrator exported WMF file.
  5. Finally, save the Excel Workbook to export Illustrator file in Excel.

Drawbacks of Using the Illustrator Approach

No Direct Conversion:  The manual approach does not support the direct AI to Excel conversion. It requires an intermediary step of converting AI to WMF to overcome the problem. Therefore, it is not suitable for professional users.

No Batch Conversion: Another major pitfall of using the DIY approach is that it does not support the functionality of batch AI to XLS conversion. You need to repeat the same set of steps to get the final output.

Difficult to Convert for Large Datasets: Users may face difficulty in converting AI file to Excel while handling large datasets. Therefore, this approach is not suggested for users who require accurate results.

Pro Solution to Export Illustrator File to Excel

If you do not have the subscription of Adobe Illustrator and are looking for a direct solution to convert AI file to Excel. Then, you may use the BitRecover AI File Converter to batch export Illustrator file in Excel with 100% accuracy. This solution is carved with advanced algorithms to export AI files in Word, PDF, PNG, GIF, etc. format. To know the working of the future sighted utility, please walkthrough the below-described section of this blog content.

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How to Convert AI File to Excel without Adobe Illustrator? Step-by-Step Guide

  1. At the start, download and run the suggested AI to Excel Converter on your desktop.
  2. Now, click on the Select Files or Select Folders option to load AI files for conversion.
    run AI to Excel converter
  3. After that, enable the AI files required for conversion from the software panel.
    enable AI files for conversion
  4. Thereafter, choose the Saving Options as XLS from the drop-down menu.
    choose XLS saving option
  5. Next, choose the storage path of the resultant data by clicking on the browse folder option.
    browse storage path
  6. Finally, click on the Convert button and wait for the AI to Excel conversion process to finish.
    convert AI file to Excel

To Sum Up

In conclusion of the above blog on the topic of how to convert AI file to Excel. We have started our discussion by understanding the reasons behind converting AI file to XLS. Secondly, we have discussed the DIY solution to export Illustrator file to Excel. However, this approach has some of its limitations. Finally, as the professional solution we have discovered AI to Excel Converter along with its working steps.