Importing International Phone numbers from text file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
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Guest

I am trying to import a text file that contains international phone numbers
with a "+" before the number. It is a comma delimited file with double quote
qualifiers. The phone number does appear in the text file correctly.

When I import the file into Access, that field is set as a text field. The
"+" along with a couple of the numbers disappears, or the whole number is
turned to strange characters. I have tried different code pages, but nothing
has worked. Any suggestions?
 
I've never heard of this as a problem and can't reproduce it, so I would
proceed on the basis that the problem is in the text file until proved
otherwise.

Since you don't give any examples I assume that the international phone
numbers are in canonical format and look something like this in the text
file, where ... represents other fields:

...,"+44 (1234) 567890",...
...,"+44 (20) 8345 6789",...
...,"+1 (123) 456-7890",...
...,"+33 (4) 99 88 77 66",...

Even if they're not formatted like this the phone numbers should import
correctly into a text field as long as the commas and quotes are
correct. Code pages don't come into it, because the numerals and other
characters involved are all in the ASCII character set; as long as the
other text fields are being imported correctly you have the right code
page.

I'd set about troubleshooting along these lines:

1) Create a CSV file containing just a few simple records, something
like this:

ID,TheName,ThePhone,Stuff
1,"John","+44 (1234) 567890","blahahhhaha"
2,"Pete","+61 (8) 9876 5432","quoth the raven"
....

Does this import correctly?

2) Are all the numbers being imported wrongly, or only some of them? If
some are imported correctly, scrutinise the text file to identify common
factors in the records that are imported correctly and those that
aren't. Use a text editor (e.g. Notepad) and if necessary a hex editor
(e.g. Hexedit).
 
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