Problem converting Excel to CSV file

[HunterN]

Hi,

I am trying to convert an Excel file that someone sent me in an email to
a .CSV file. Two of the columns in the excel file are numeric and can be up
to 65 characters long. When I do the File - Save As, I get the .CSV file, but those two columns are now in exponential format.

How can I prevent that from happening when converting the file?

Thanks,

Nancy

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Format the cells as Text before entering the numbers.

 

[HunterN]

I saved the .xls file and changed the format for those two columns to text.
I then got out of excel and came back in and did the Save As over again.

I opened up the .csv file and still had the same problem. It converted it to Exponential.

Nancy

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

It's not the csv file that contains the exponential numbers, but Excel converting it when it's opened.

The solution is to save as a txt file. Then you will get the Text Import wizard when you open it in Excel, and at step 3 you can specify that the format of those two columns is Text.

You can test this by renaming your existing text file so that it has a txt extension.

 

[HunterN]

Thanks Andrew,

That fixed the problem.

Nancy