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Fix Brother P-Touch Editor Cannot Open XLSX Files
Question details
The user is unable to open or import an Excel XLSX spreadsheet file into the Brother P-Touch Editor label-making software.
- Product
- Brother P-Touch Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to import or open an Excel workbook (.xlsx) as a database to print labels using Brother P-Touch Editor.
- Observed behavior
- The P-Touch Editor fails to recognize or open the XLSX file format, causing the database import process to fail.
Ensure that your XLSX file is not currently open in another spreadsheet program and does not contain password protection, as these can block external applications from accessing the data.
Convert and Save the XLSX File as an XLS or CSV Format
Since some versions of Brother P-Touch Editor lack database drivers for newer XLSX files, saving your spreadsheet as an older XLS or a universal CSV file is the quickest workaround.
Brother P-Touch Editor relies on specific database drivers to read spreadsheet files. If those drivers are missing or incompatible, the software will reject XLSX files. Converting the data to a legacy format bypasses this limitation.
Open your original XLSX file in your preferred spreadsheet application, such as WPS Spreadsheet or Microsoft Excel.
Click on 'Menu' or 'File' in the top-left corner of the application and select 'Save As'.
In the file format dropdown menu, choose 'Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*.xls)' or 'CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)'.
Save the newly formatted file to your computer, launch Brother P-Touch Editor, and try importing this new file into your label template.
Update P-Touch Editor and Contact Brother Support
If converting the file does not work, the issue may stem from an outdated software version or a specific third-party application bug.
Easily Manage and Convert Spreadsheet Data for Label Printing with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a lightweight and powerful spreadsheet tool that allows you to seamlessly format, clean up, and export your XLSX files into older XLS or CSV formats perfectly suited for Brother P-Touch Editor and other third-party label makers.
- 1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your problematic XLSX file that needs to be printed.
- 2. Format Data for Labels: Ensure your first row contains clear text headers (e.g., Name, Address, Barcode) to make database mapping easy in the label editor.
- 3. Export to a Compatible Format: Click 'Menu', select 'Save As', and choose 'Microsoft Excel 97-2003 (*.xls)' or 'CSV' to ensure perfect compatibility with your Brother software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my label software say the XLSX file is invalid?
This usually happens because older versions of label-making software lack the necessary database drivers (like the Microsoft Access Database Engine) to read newer XML-based Excel formats (XLSX). Converting the file to an older XLS format typically bypasses this error.
Do I need Microsoft Excel installed to print labels from a spreadsheet?
Not necessarily. You can use free spreadsheet software like WPS Office to create, manage, and save your data in a highly compatible format like CSV or XLS, which your label editor can then read directly.
Can I import a CSV file into P-Touch Editor instead of an Excel file?
Yes, CSV (Comma Separated Values) is a universally accepted plain text format that is highly compatible with Brother P-Touch Editor and practically all other third-party label printing applications.
