XANES spectra, equivalent to beta-XAFS, are extracted from reflection X-ray absorption fine structure (ReflXAFS) spectra for several thin films such as TiSi2 and Sb-Te alloys, by use of the Kramers-Kroning relations recursively. The extraction is based on the interpretation that a ReflXAFS spectrum, observed as a superposition of beta-XAFS and delta-XAFS, is an extension of the Fresnel reflectivity into the energy space. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.