CSV formatting

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Guest

I want to import a CSV file into microsoft word and format it in columns. I
have imported it already. I can find & replace the comma with spaces, but it
still leaves me with an irregular second and third columns. (IE: address
book input with name,email address,etc. comes in:
xxx xxxxx,[email protected]
xxxxxx xxxxxxx,[email protected]
I can get it to separate as follows:
xxx xxxxx (e-mail address removed)
xxxxxx xxxxxxx (e-mail address removed). I need the email address to be at
the same tab location. Can anyone explain what to do?
Jim
 
I want to import a CSV file into microsoft word and format it in columns. I
have imported it already. I can find & replace the comma with spaces, but it
still leaves me with an irregular second and third columns. (IE: address
book input with name,email address,etc. comes in:
xxx xxxxx,[email protected]
xxxxxx xxxxxxx,[email protected]
I can get it to separate as follows:
xxx xxxxx (e-mail address removed)
xxxxxx xxxxxxx (e-mail address removed). I need the email address to be at
the same tab location. Can anyone explain what to do?
Jim
Click to expand...

Hi Jim,

"Tab" is the magic word. Instead of replacing the commas with spaces,
replace them with tab characters (the code for a tab in the Replace
box is ^t). Then select all the text and set tab stops, either on the
ruler or by using the Format > Tabs dialog.

The underlying cause of the misalignment is that most fonts are
"proportional" -- different characters have different widths. Only a
few fonts (Courier New, Lucida Sans Typewriter) are "nonproportional",
or the same width for every character.

You may get some useful info at
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/SettingTabs.htm.
 
A possibility is to import the CSV and then use the Table, Text to Table
command selecting comma as the column separator.

You could also force Word to align the email address at the @ sign by using
the Decimal Align tab. (The decimal align tab will align at the first
'punctuation character' as long as it isn't the default thousands separator
(which is the comma in the UK).

--
Terry Farrell - Word MVP
http://word.mvps.org/

:I want to import a CSV file into microsoft word and format it in columns.
I
: have imported it already. I can find & replace the comma with spaces, but
it
: still leaves me with an irregular second and third columns. (IE: address
: book input with name,email address,etc. comes in:
: xxx xxxxx,[email protected]
: xxxxxx xxxxxxx,[email protected]
: I can get it to separate as follows:
: xxx xxxxx (e-mail address removed)
: xxxxxx xxxxxxx (e-mail address removed). I need the email address to be
at
: the same tab location. Can anyone explain what to do?
: Jim
 
Jay Freedman gave me some good advice also. I will probably experiment with
both of them. I am inputing about 3600 Karaoke song, artists, and ID's and
its been a nightmare.

Thanks,
Jim
 
3600 Karaoke songs - nightmare!

Terry

: Jay Freedman gave me some good advice also. I will probably experiment
with
: both of them. I am inputing about 3600 Karaoke song, artists, and ID's
and
: its been a nightmare.
:
: Thanks,
: Jim
:
: "TF" wrote:
:
: > A possibility is to import the CSV and then use the Table, Text to Table
: > command selecting comma as the column separator.
: >
: > You could also force Word to align the email address at the @ sign by
using
: > the Decimal Align tab. (The decimal align tab will align at the first
: > 'punctuation character' as long as it isn't the default thousands
separator
: > (which is the comma in the UK).
: >
: > --
: > Terry Farrell - Word MVP
: > http://word.mvps.org/
: >
: > : > :I want to import a CSV file into microsoft word and format it in
columns.
: > I
: > : have imported it already. I can find & replace the comma with spaces,
but
: > it
: > : still leaves me with an irregular second and third columns. (IE:
address
: > : book input with name,email address,etc. comes in:
: > : xxx xxxxx,[email protected]
: > : xxxxxx xxxxxxx,[email protected]
: > : I can get it to separate as follows:
: > : xxx xxxxx (e-mail address removed)
: > : xxxxxx xxxxxxx (e-mail address removed). I need the email address to
be
: > at
: > : the same tab location. Can anyone explain what to do?
: > : Jim
: >
: >
: >
 
Thanks a lot. I used the text to table conversion, double columned and come
out with a usable print that will get me thru this weekend. I will try some
further experiments next week when I have more time to experiment.
 
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