Extract text from Citation style files (CSL)
To convert CSL Citation styles to another format, you need Zotero or other Data software.
To convert other file formats to the "XML Citation Format" file type, you need software like Zotero or a similar tool.
The .CSL file extension is primarily associated with Citation Style Language files. These are XML-based data files used by modern reference management software - such as Zotero, Mendeley, and Papers - to define how academic citations and bibliographies are formatted. Secondary uses for the .CSL extension include Kusto Query Language scripts for Microsoft Azure, CodeSite application logs, and CorelDRAW symbol libraries.
While highly functional for software, .CSL files carry significant disadvantages for the average user. Because they are written in raw XML, they are entirely structural and lack readable formatting when opened directly. They are strictly code-based, meaning they are prone to breaking if manually edited without a dedicated XML syntax checker. Furthermore, you cannot view the output of a .CSL file simply by double-clicking it; it requires an active database of citations and an interpreting engine to generate the final text.
To safely read, share, or edit the contents of a .CSL file outside of a reference manager, conversion is necessary. Convert .CSL to XML or TXT to safely examine the source code. If you need to share the script or style parameters with a colleague who lacks a code editor, convert it to PDF or DOCX for cross-platform readability. Drop your file here to view and convert it securely right in your browser.
Convert.Guru analyzes your CSL file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted ENS, CSL01, CSV, TXT, CLS, XML, XSL, DOCX, JSON, JPG, XLSX, ZIP and RDF files.
If you want to convert CSL file to ENS, CSV, JSON, XML, YAML, YML, TOML, INI, CFG, CONF, DAT or DB, you can use Zotero or similar software from the "Citation Style Formatting" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert DBF, XML, SQLITE, XLSX, SQL, TSV, ACCDB, YAML, MDB, CSV, ODS or JSON files to CSL, try Zotero or another comparable tool in the "Citation Style Formatting" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our CSL converter.