Definition of a CSV File
CSV files are a standard means of moving data from one application to another. Most programs that store information in a database, such as accounting and sales tracking software, can export data as a CSV file so it can be understood and imported by another program.
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Definition
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CSV is short for Comma Separated Values. When you open a CSV file in a word processing program, each piece of information (value) is separated by a comma. CSV files are also known as Comma Delimited files.
Application Types
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Any text-editing program, including basic applications like Notepad and Wordpad, can open a CSV file. Spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel and Google Spreadsheets can also import CSV files, inserting each piece of data into its own table cell. Certain applications that use databases, like Salesforce, import and export data in CSV files.
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Identification
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Identify CSV files by their ".csv" file extension. To view a file's extension on Windows, right-click the filename and select "Properties." Click the "General" tab and look for "Comma Separated Values" on the "Type of File" line. On Mac OS X, click once on the file to highlight it, then press "Cmd+I" to bring up the Get Info screen. Look under "Name & Extension" to see if the filename ends in CSV.
Size
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Because they're basic text files with zero formatting (e.g. special fonts, bold text), CSV files are significantly smaller than other files (e.g. Microsoft Excel XLS files) containing the exact same information.
Warning
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Individual pieces of information (values) saved in a CSV file cannot contain commas, or the program importing the CSV will interpret the value as two separate values. For example, if you save a person's name as "Brown, John" and export as a CSV, then try to import the CSV into another program, the new program will consider "Brown" and "John" to be two separate names. Avoid this situation by eliminating commas from individual values ahead of time (e.g. changing "Brown, John" to "John Brown").
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References
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