Excel: Importing Comma-Delimited Text Files into Excel

Last reviewed: November 29, 1994
Article ID: Q67455
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.2, 3.0, 4.0

SUMMARY

To enable Microsoft Excel version 2.20, 3.00 or 4.00 to interpret a comma separated values (CSV) formatted file, one of the following procedures must be followed:

Method 1

Append a .CSV extension at the end of the name of the file you want to open.

Method 2

After choosing Open from the File menu, click the Text button, and then select the Comma option as the Column Delimiter.

If neither of these methods is used, the file will be opened as a text file with all comma-delimited information in the first column of the worksheet.

MORE INFORMATION

To use the OPEN command in a macro to open a CSV file without the .CSV filename extension, be sure to specify the format argument as 2.

The CSV format is common for many database programs. It is similar to Text format, except that the CSV format uses a comma instead of a tab to separate fields.

For more information about the CSV format, see pages 125, 147, 308, and 309 of the "Microsoft Excel User's Guide 2" version 4.0 manual. If you are using Excel version 3.00, see page 334 of the "Microsoft Excel User's Guide" version 3.0 manual. If you are using Excel 2.20, see pages 265 and 276 of the "Microsoft Excel Reference" version 2.2 manual.

For more information about the OPEN macro command, see pages 307-308 of the "Microsoft Excel Function Reference," version 4.0 manual. If you are using version 3.0, see pages 169-170 of the "Microsoft Excel Function Reference" version 3.0 manual. If you are using Excel 2.20, see page 254 of the "Microsoft Excel Functions and Macros" version 2.2 manual.


KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 2.2 2.20 2.21 3.0 3.00 4.0 4.00


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: November 29, 1994
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.