xls2ssml

xls2html is a perl program to turn Microsoft Excel file (xls) into SSML file suitable for recording to Daisy digital talking books using DTBmaker (w3.wmcnet.org) or processing by SSML enabled text-to-speech systems such as swift. (www.cepstral.com)

Requirements

Perl programming language. Built into Linux and MacOSX. A free version for windows can be downloaded from ActiveState
xlhtml program (http://chicago.sourceforge.net/xlhtml/)
NOTE: The MacOS version of xls2ssml does not require xlhtml. It also has a full user interface.

Usage

xls2html.pl excelfile.xls

The ssml file will be built in the same directory as the original .xls file with the same file name. For example if you had a file called money.xls the SSML file would be placed in the same directory as money.xls and named money.ssml

You can send the ssml file to dtbmaker which will produce a daisy "book" of the excel document with each sheet a level one heading. Or you can direct it to Cepstral swift or any other SSML enable text-to-speech system for processing.

The book will appear under its name in the Songs menu of your iPod. You can now use your iPod to hear the book being read to you. All of your iPod's controls will work with your book.

Speech

xls2ssml announces each table (sheets), row and cell in a low voice in English before returning to a normal voice for the cell's content.

To Do

provide for multiple languages.

If you would like to contact the author please email Gregory Kearney