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Turn your Excel study notes into Anki flashcards

Copy your spreadsheet terms into a text file, upload it, and get flashcards with spaced repetition. No credit card needed to start.

Create flashcards nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free account · 3 sets a month · Creates flashcards in seconds

From spreadsheet rows to Anki flashcards

Learning how to make Anki flashcards from Excel usually comes down to moving your rows into a format a card generator can read. DeckOwl does not accept .xlsx files directly, so the reliable route is to copy the relevant columns into plain text first.

Copy only the columns you need to study, such as function names and their purposes.
Use one term and one answer per line so each flashcard stays focused.
Check generated cards against your sheet before you study them.
Re-run a smaller section if a long sheet produces cards that mix topics.

Example Excel formula flashcards

What does the fourth argument of VLOOKUP control?range_lookup: FALSE finds an exact match, while TRUE or omitted allows an approximate match.

What does SUMIFS need as its first argument?The sum_range, the cells to add up, followed by one or more criteria_range and criteria pairs.

What does $B$2 mean in an Excel formula?An absolute reference. Column B and row 2 stay fixed when the formula is copied to other cells.

What keyboard shortcut converts a data range into an Excel table?Ctrl+T, which also gives the range headers and structured references.

What does COUNTIF count?The cells in a range that meet one condition, such as a specific text value or a number greater than a threshold.

Generate the full set

Plain text input

Paste the question and answer columns into a .txt file so each line holds one term and its definition.

Cards from your own rows

DeckOwl reads the text and drafts flashcards from your material, not a generic deck.

Spaced repetition and export

Review in the browser on the Free plan, or export to Anki on Plus to study in your existing decks.

How it works

Copy your sheet into text

Select the columns you want to study, paste them into a plain text file, and keep one term and definition per line.

Upload and generate

Upload the file and DeckOwl creates flashcards from it. The Free plan includes 3 generations per month.

Study or export to Anki

Review the cards with spaced repetition. Anki export is a Plus feature, so upgrade when you want the cards in Anki.

Keep each line to one idea, such as a function and what it does, or a shortcut and its result. Shorter lines give cleaner cards, and you can add context in a separate line if a term needs an explanation.

Once the cards are generated, study them in the browser on the Free plan. Plus adds export to Anki, along with CSV and PDF, so your Excel review can sit alongside the rest of your Anki decks.

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Frequently asked questions

Can DeckOwl read an Excel file directly?

No. Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file, notes or an image instead, so copy your Excel rows into a text file first.

How many flashcards should I make for an Excel course?

Start with one card for each function, formula pattern or shortcut you need to recall. Add cards for the mistakes you repeat, since those are the ones spaced repetition helps most.

Do I need a paid plan to get the cards into Anki?

Yes. Anki export is part of Plus, which costs $99.90/year or $9.99/month, while the Free plan lets you study in the browser.

Is there a free way to try it first?

Yes. The Free plan includes 3 generations per month, and you do not need a credit card to start.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.