For analysts needing automation, Python 3.12+ offers a script that converts ASC timetables to Excel in seconds.
Below is a modern script using pandas and openpyxl (the new standard for Excel writing).
# asc_to_excel_new.py
# Latest method for converting ASC timetables to XLSX
import pandas as pd
from pathlib import Path asc timetables to excel new
def convert_asc_to_excel(asc_file_path, output_excel_path):
"""
Converts ASC fixed-width timetable to formatted Excel.
Uses new 'read_fwf' with explicit column specs.
"""
# Define ASC column specifications (Adjust these to your ASC schema)
col_specs = [
(0, 6), # Flight Number
(6, 10), # Departure ICAO
(10, 14), # Arrival ICAO
(14, 19), # STD (Scheduled Time Departure)
(19, 24), # STA (Scheduled Time Arrival)
(24, 28), # Aircraft Type
(28, 32) # Day flags (1234567)
]
# New: Use 'read_fwf' for fixed-width files
df = pd.read_fwf(asc_file_path, colspecs=col_specs, skiprows=1, encoding='utf-8')
# Clean data: Remove empty rows and strip whitespace
df = df.dropna(how='all')
df = df.applymap(lambda x: x.strip() if isinstance(x, str) else x)
# Convert times to Excel serial time
df['STD'] = pd.to_datetime(df['STD'], format='%H%M', errors='coerce').dt.time
df['STA'] = pd.to_datetime(df['STA'], format='%H%M', errors='coerce').dt.time
# Write to Excel with new formatting
with pd.ExcelWriter(output_excel_path, engine='openpyxl') as writer:
df.to_excel(writer, sheet_name='ASC_Timetable', index=False)
# Auto-adjust column widths (New feature)
worksheet = writer.sheets['ASC_Timetable']
for column in df:
column_width = max(df[column].astype(str).map(len).max(), len(column))
col_idx = df.columns.get_loc(column) + 1
worksheet.column_dimensions[chr(64 + col_idx)].width = column_width + 2
print(f"✅ Success: Converted asc_file_path to output_excel_path")
Create a fresh Excel file with standard structure: For analysts needing automation, Python 3
| Day | Time Slot | Course Code | Course Name | Room | Instructor |
|-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------------|----------|------------|
| Monday | 09:00–10:30 | MATH101 | Calculus I | Hall A | Prof. Lee |
| Monday | 10:45–12:15 | ENG102 | Academic Writing | Room 205 | Dr. Tan |
| Tuesday | 09:00–10:30 | CS201 | Programming | Lab 3 | Ms. Lim |
Tips for new design:
The “new” in our keyword isn't just about software versions; it's about methodology. The industry is shifting from batch conversion to real-time syncing.
With the modern updates to Excel (Office 365 and 2021), the "PDF Reflow" feature has become a viable backup option. Create a fresh Excel file with standard structure:
Steps:
Benefits:
This allows you to select specific tables within the PDF preview. It is often cleaner than the native export if you are trying to get a specific summary view into a spreadsheet format.