Batch convert .xls to .xlsx with VBA without opening the workbooks - excel

Question

I have a bunch of Excel-Workbooks in the old .xls format. I'd like to convert them to .xlsx using VBA. The following code accomplishes this task but it needs to open each workbook in order to save it again.
Dim wbk As Workbook
Set wbk = Workbooks.Open(filename:="C:\some\example\path\workbook.xls")
wbk.SaveAs filename:="C:\some\example\path\workbook.xlsx", _
FileFormat:=xlOpenXMLWorkbook, AccessMode:=xlExclusive, ConflictResolution:=Excel.XlSaveConflictResolution.xlLocalSessionChanges
wbk.Close SaveChanges:=False
Is there another way to do this task without the need to open each workbook?
This is very time consuming with at least 30-100 workbooks.

Answer 1

Here is the piece of code to get what you are looking for:
Sub ChangeFileFormat()
Dim strCurrentFileExt As String
Dim strNewFileExt As String
Dim objFSO As Object
Dim objFolder As Object
Dim objFile As Object
Dim xlFile As Workbook
Dim strNewName As String
Dim strFolderPath As String
strCurrentFileExt = ".xls"
strNewFileExt = ".xlsx"
strFolderPath = "C:\Users\Scorpio\Desktop\New folder"
If Right(strFolderPath, 1) <> "\" Then
strFolderPath = strFolderPath & "\"
End If
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objFolder = objFSO.getfolder(strFolderPath)
For Each objFile In objFolder.Files
strNewName = objFile.Name
If Right(strNewName, Len(strCurrentFileExt)) = strCurrentFileExt Then
Set xlFile = Workbooks.Open(objFile.Path, , True)
strNewName = Replace(strNewName, strCurrentFileExt, strNewFileExt)
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
Select Case strNewFileExt
Case ".xlsx"
xlFile.SaveAs strFolderPath & strNewName, XlFileFormat.xlOpenXMLWorkbook
Case ".xlsm"
xlFile.SaveAs strFolderPath & strNewName, XlFileFormat.xlOpenXMLWorkbookMacroEnabled
End Select
xlFile.Close
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
End If
Next objFile
ClearMemory:
strCurrentFileExt = vbNullString
strNewFileExt = vbNullString
Set objFSO = Nothing
Set objFolder = Nothing
Set objFile = Nothing
Set xlFile = Nothing
strNewName = vbNullString
strFolderPath = vbNullString
End Sub
this is the link for XL file format : https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff198017.aspx
'-----------------------------------------
A bit Modification:
Check this code, i have only changed its extension name, but please check it with the compatibility... and let me know is it working for you...
Sub ChangeFileFormat_V1()
Dim strCurrentFileExt As String
Dim strNewFileExt As String
Dim objFSO As Object
Dim objFolder As Object
Dim objFile As File 'Object
Dim xlFile As Workbook
Dim strNewName As String
Dim strFolderPath As String
strCurrentFileExt = ".xls"
strNewFileExt = ".xlsx"
strFolderPath = "C:\Users\Scorpio\Desktop\New folder"
If Right(strFolderPath, 1) <> "\" Then
strFolderPath = strFolderPath & "\"
End If
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objFolder = objFSO.getfolder(strFolderPath)
For Each objFile In objFolder.Files
strNewName = objFile.Name
If Right(strNewName, Len(strCurrentFileExt)) = strCurrentFileExt Then
strNewName = Replace(strNewName, strCurrentFileExt, strNewFileExt)
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
objFile.Name = strNewName
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
End If
Next objFile
ClearMemory:
strCurrentFileExt = vbNullString
strNewFileExt = vbNullString
Set objFSO = Nothing
Set objFolder = Nothing
Set objFile = Nothing
Set xlFile = Nothing
strNewName = vbNullString
strFolderPath = vbNullString
End Sub