How to Import CSV Files

A CSV file (comma separated values) is a way to save data in tables, forms and spreadsheets in a format to be used in other programs or documents. This digital format saves all of the text and numbers in spreadsheets as plain text separated by commas. When imported into another document, the data in the CSV file will be placed in individual fields. Importing data from a CSV file is easy if you follow a few simple steps.

Instructions

1. 

   Open the program or file in which you want to import the data from the CSV file. In this example, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is used.

2. 

   Click once on the "Data" drop-down menu, click once on "Import External Data" and select the "Import Data" option.

3. 

   Use the "Look in" drop-down menu to select the folder to which the CSV file was saved. The "Files of type" field should be listed as "All Data Sources" and can be changed using the associated drop-down menu.

4. 

   Select the CSV file that you want to import and click once on the "Open" button. This action will launch the "Text Import Wizard" pop-up window.

5. 

   Choose the "Delimited" option on Step 1 of the "Text Import Wizard" and click once on the next button. This option is necessary when dealing with CSV files, as the data are separated by commas.

6. 

   Make certain that the "Commas" box is checked, and no others, in the "Delimiters" box in Step 2 of the "Text Import Wizard." Select the double quotation marks from the "Text qualifier" drop-down menu. Click once on the "Next" button.

7. 

   Select a column data format based on the type of data in the CSV file. If you are unfamiliar with the exact type of data in the file, or if the data are mixed, choose the "General" option.

8. 

   Click once on the "Finish" button in Step 3 of the "Text Import Wizard." The data from the CSV file will now be populated in the spreadsheet.

References

• Microsoft Help Page