Reports generated in CSV format may pose challenges when opened in MS Excel, as Excel tends to perform data conversions and formatting based on operating system and localization settings.
For optimal handling of CSV files in Excel, follow these steps:
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Open Excel First: Open Excel with a blank sheet first, before opening the CSV file to prevent automatic assumptions about data types based on the file extension.
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Use Excel's Get Data Tool: Instead of directly opening the CSV file, utilize Excel's Get Data tool:
- Go to the "Data" tab in Excel.
- Click on "Get Data" or "From Text/CSV," depending on your Excel version.
- Navigate to and select your CSV report file.
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Check Delimiters and Data Types: Power Query should automatically detect column delimiters, including column names and types. Adjust the delimiter if needed, choosing semicolon ( ; ) for correct column separation.
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Load the Data: Preview the data before completing the import to ensure it appears as expected. Once satisfied, click Load.
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Adjust Column Formats if Needed: After importing the data, further adjust column formats in Excel if necessary. Right-click on the column header and choose "Format Cells" to customize formatting for date, number, or text values.
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Save as Excel Workbook: After making adjustments, save the file as an Excel workbook (xlsx) to retain your data and formatting choices for future use.
Note: Instructions are accurate as of 11/2023. Microsoft may update Excel's features, potentially affecting these steps.