# How to read XLSB

**URL:** https://forum.cloverdx.com/t/how-to-read-xlsb/1945
**Category:** CloverDX Platform
**Created:** [March 7, 2018, 12:00am UTC](https://forum.cloverdx.com/t/how-to-read-xlsb/1945 "2018-03-07T00:00:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![aposkala2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f1d935/32.png) [@aposkala2](https://forum.cloverdx.com/u/aposkala2)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2018, 12:00am UTC](https://forum.cloverdx.com/t/how-to-read-xlsb/1945/1 "2018-03-07T00:00:00Z")

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Hello,

Is there a component that can read XLSB files?

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### Author: ![Vladimir\_Barton](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/forum.cloverdx.com/vladimir_barton/32/167_2.png) [@Vladimir\_Barton](https://forum.cloverdx.com/u/Vladimir_Barton)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://forum.cloverdx.com/t/how-to-read-xlsb/1945/2 "2018-03-07T13:41:56Z")

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Hello Aposkala2,  
unfortunately, reading XLSB files is not supported in CloverETL Designer. However, there are a couple of workaround solutions how to handle this situation. Attached is an example graph which demonstrates one of the possible options that involves converting the XLSB file to a CSV file with [Libre Office](https://www.libreoffice.org/) command line tool. The main idea is the following:

- Converting the XLSB file to a CSV file headlessly

- Extracting the CSV filename and sending the respective file URL to FlatFileReader

- Reading the CSV file by using FlatfileReader

Please note that the graph file uses parameter values related to my local environment. In order to make the graph work on your side, make sure to adjust the parameters accordingly.  
Kind regards,

- [XLSBReading.zip](https://cdn.cloverdx.com/forum/18401%5F8556702d5bc144386ce9c4bf3558b6b4/XLSBReading.zip)

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### Author: ![aposkala2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f1d935/32.png) [@aposkala2](https://forum.cloverdx.com/u/aposkala2)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2018, 10:10am UTC](https://forum.cloverdx.com/t/how-to-read-xlsb/1945/3 "2018-03-08T10:10:53Z")

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Hi Bartonv,

Thanks for the answer.

I adjusted some parameters, I get an error though saying that it does not recognize the user-defined FLAT\_FILE\_READER?

Any insight on that?

Thanks in advance,  
Apostolos

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### Author: ![Vladimir\_Barton](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/forum.cloverdx.com/vladimir_barton/32/167_2.png) [@Vladimir\_Barton](https://forum.cloverdx.com/u/Vladimir_Barton)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 12:45pm UTC](https://forum.cloverdx.com/t/how-to-read-xlsb/1945/4 "2018-03-13T12:45:17Z")

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Hi Apostolos,  
feel free to review the attachment (an older version of the same sample graph) which should be compatible with older versions of CloverETL Designer. Another option would be to simply replace the FlatFileReader component with its predecesor - UniversalDataReader. Finally, a recommended option is to download a newer version (or ideally our latest 4.8.1 version) of the Designer from our [website](https://www.cloveretl.com/) and test the original example there.  
Kind regards,

- [XLSBReading\_original.zip](https://cdn.cloverdx.com/forum/18401%5F66be0f5b1fe2091edffb5769791e4be0/XLSBReading%5Foriginal.zip)