CSV files number as text

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack
  • Start date Start date
J

Jack

Does anyone know how to save number field with leading
zeros. I tried saving as a text field but when I reopen
the file the zeros are gone.
 
Jack said:
Does anyone know how to save number field with leading
zeros. I tried saving as a text field but when I reopen
the file the zeros are gone.
Click to expand...

Leading zeros *are* stored in CSV files saved from Excel. Open such CSV
files in Notepad to confirm this. The problem comes when you reopen the
files in Excel because Excel is revolting stupid when it comes to reading
CSV files (see the FAR MORE INTELLEGENT way OpenOffice/StarOffice opens CSV
files - *ALWAYS* displaying it's Text Import wizard-equivalent with standard
CSV defaults in place *BUT* allowing any of them to be overridden by the
user). One possibility: rename the file with a .TXT or .PRN extension before
loading it. That'll trigger the text import wizard when Excel opens it.
 
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