Converting to .CSV

[britt1229]

Hi there! I'm trying to convert a data file to .csv but when I do, my column of account numbers truncates (its 12 -14 characters) and does not let me convert it to text in order for the account number to be shown.

Ex:
Original account # in the original data file:
84080199760960036000

Same account number converted to .csv file (formatted cell to number, no decimals) :
84080199760960000000

If I format the cell to text, it truncates, so that does not work either. I could do it manually for one data sheet as it only has 20 of these come up, but for another its the majority of account numbers.

Thank you so much for any help you can provide! I watch your videos all the time and you've helped me so much!

Brittany

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Welcome to MrExcel.

I think you will find that the full number is in the csv file when viewed in Notepad. But it will be truncated if you open the csv in Excel, because it will be treated as a number. Try changing the file extension to txt. Then you will get the Text Import Wizard when you open the file and you can specify Text for the format of the column at Step 3.

 

[britt1229]

Thank you for your response!! However, that didn't seem to work And I do need the file to be in .csv format, do you think it is possible to have the account numbers in there correctly somehow ?

Thanks again!

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Are you saying they aren't correct when viewed in Notepad? How are you saving the data? You can have the file in csv format without the csv extension.

 

[britt1229]

Well it is correct in Notepad, but it doesn't open with a text import wizard when i open it in excel. Also, when I open the document in Excel all of the data is in the first column.

How can I have the file in csv format without the csv extension?

thanks!

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

When you open the file in Excel, check delimited at Step 1 and check Comma at Step 2. Can't you just rename the file by right clicking it in the Open dialog?