Tutorial

How to Convert a XML File to IIF: Step-by-Step Tutorial

By FinancialDataTools.com Team  ·  March 2026  ·  5 min read  ·  Last updated March 18, 2026

📄 Open the XML to IIF Converter and follow along with this tutorial.

Open Tool →

Steps

  1. Prepare Your XML File
  2. Open the Converter
  3. Load Your File
  4. Select the IIF Record Type
  5. Review the Source Preview
  6. Convert to IIF
  7. Review the IIF Output
  8. Export the File

Step 1: Prepare Your XML File

Confirm your XML file is in the standard XML format. The converter accepts .xml, .txt files. No special pre-processing is needed — simply locate the file you want to convert and have it ready to open.

Step 2: Open the Converter

Navigate to the XML to IIF Converter at FinancialDataTools.com. The tool loads entirely in your browser — there is no software to install and no account to create.

Open the XML to IIF Converter — free, private, runs in your browser.

Open Converter →

Step 3: Load Your File

Click the Open button in the toolbar to open a system file picker, then select your XML file. Alternatively, drag and drop your file directly onto the left source panel. The converter will immediately begin parsing the file.

While the file is loading, a spinner is shown in the source panel. For most files this completes in under a second.

Step 4: Select the IIF Record Type

Use the Record type dropdown in the toolbar to select the IIF record type that matches your data. This determines which type label appears in the IIF header and data lines. Choose TRNS for transactions, ACCNT for chart of accounts, CUST for customers, and so on. You can change the record type at any time before clicking Convert.

Step 5: Review the Source Preview

Once the file loads, your data is displayed as a table in the left panel. Check that the expected columns are present and that row counts look correct. The stats bar shows total rows and columns. For large files the preview shows the first 500 rows; the full dataset is always converted regardless.

Step 6: Convert to IIF

Click the Convert to IIF button in the toolbar. The converter processes all rows from your XML file and generates the IIF output. A spinner is shown in the right panel while conversion is in progress.

Step 7: Review the IIF Output

After conversion completes, the right panel displays the IIF output. The status badge in the stats bar changes to CONVERTED. Scroll through the output panel to verify the structure looks correct before downloading.

Step 8: Export the File

Click the Export IIF button in the toolbar to download your converted file. The browser saves it directly to your downloads folder. The output is named to match your input — only the extension is changed to .iif. After downloading, click Reset to clear all state and start a new conversion if needed.

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