TabularJS


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

``bash
npm install tabularjs
`

Quick Start

$3

`javascript
import tabularjs from 'tabularjs';

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

$3

`javascript
import tabularjs from 'tabularjs';

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

Command Line:

`bash
node src/script.js samples/test1.xml
`

Production Script Example:

`javascript
import fs from 'fs';
import tabularjs from 'tabularjs';

const filePath = process.argv[2];

if (!filePath) {
console.log('Usage: node script.js ');
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:

$3

`html












`

$3

`jsx
import { useRef } from 'react';
import jspreadsheet from 'jspreadsheet-pro';
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 (
<>



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

);
}
`

$3

`vue



`

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:

`bash
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:

- Jspreadsheet - Lightweight JavaScript spreadsheet component
- LemonadeJS - Micro reactive JavaScript library
- CalendarJS - JavaScript calendar and date picker

Technical Support

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

Links

- Website: tabularjs.com
- GitHub: github.com/jspreadsheet/tabularjs
- NPM: npm install tabularjs`

License

MIT