csv vs text

[lezawang]

Hi
I do not see any difference between saving excel file as a text format or as a csv format. The same thing apply if I import data from text or csv. Excel can read both no problem. So why the csv is needed? Thank you very much.

 

[6StringJazzer]

The csv format is comma delimited. The text format is tab delimited. Excel will read either one, but they are both provided for compatibility with other applications. Some applications require comma delimited, and some require tab delimited.

 

[Joe4]

The point of saving files in Text or CSV format is not for the sake of opening them/reading them in Excel, but for importing into other programs. The needed format is determined by the other program. Some may require CSV format, some may require Tab Delimited format, etc.

Also note that "Text" format can actually mean a lot of different things. CSV is often considered a type of "Text" format. "Text" could mean space-delimited, tab-delimited, etc. So it really covers a wide array of options.

Also note that opening CSV files in Excel also has its dangers. CSV files will open in Excel directly, but in doing so, it makes it own assumptions on the format of each field, and unfortunately, sometimes Excel guesses wrong. This is especially true because certain formatting can be lost when importing CSV files to Excel. Things like leading zeroes may be dropped off of values, and dates may be interpretted incorrectly.