How to Convert Text Files to Excel & Add a Password

Excel can import text files with fields delimited by spaces or symbols.

Long before the days of modern spreadsheet programs, spreadsheet data was saved in delimited text files that separated fields using a certain character or a certain number of spaces. Such delimited text formats are still used today for transmitting spreadsheet information independently of proprietary file formats. Microsoft Excel includes a Text Import Wizard that can quickly and accurately process a delimited text file; once you've imported the data to Excel you can add a password to your worksheet with just a few clicks.

Instructions

1. Launch the Microsoft Excel application.

2. Click the "File" tab, then click "Open."

3. Click "Text Files" in the file type drop-down list.

4. Navigate to the window that contains your text file and double-click the file to initiate the Excel Import Text Wizard.

5. Click "Delimited" if each field is separated by a tab or symbol; click "Fixed width" if each field is the same width.

6. Select the character that separates the fields in your text file under the "Delimiters" heading if you are working with a delimited file.

   Click and drag the column breaks in the preview window to change the fixed width interval if you are working with a fixed width text file.

7. Click "OK" to import the text file to Excel.

8. Click the "Review" tab in the menu ribbon, then click the "Protect Workbook" button.

9. Type a password for your workbook in the text field, then click "OK" to save the password. Any user that attempts to open the workbook will be prompted for the password.

10. Click the "File" tab, then click "Save." Type in a file name and click "Save" to save your password-protected document.

References

• Microsoft: Excel Text Import Wizard
• Microsoft: Import Text to Excel
• Microsoft: Password Protect Workbook