Imprting data from CSV of variable length, but into a fixed area

[baggers]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Morning all, having a problem with a data import into Excel 2008. I'm trying to import several .csv texts files into a tab, but the length of the text files is variable. What this means is that every time I use a data refresh to import another file, excel changes the layout of the page by either adding or removing cells, depending on the length of the file, which I do not want it to do: I am importing several files and need to keep the layout the same.

I know the maximum length that I will need, so I want excel to just import the data into the area I designate, but not add or remove cells, or otherwise mess up my layout. I can't seem to figure out how to do this; every time I try, it changes the layout, whichever data range property I specify. I've tried changing the data import properties, but I can't find a setting that will import the data into the area (whatever the length of the file) without adding blank cells. Any ideas?

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Morning all, having a problem with a data import into Excel 2008. I'm trying
to import several .csv texts files into a tab, but the length of the text
files is variable. What this means is that every time I use a data refresh to
import another file, excel changes the layout of the page by either adding or
removing cells, depending on the length of the file, which I do not want it to
do: I am importing several files and need to keep the layout the same.

I know the maximum length that I will need, so I want excel to just import the
data into the area I designate, but not add or remove cells, or otherwise mess
up my layout. I can't seem to figure out how to do this; every time I try, it
changes the layout, whichever data range property I specify. I've tried
changing the data import properties, but I can't find a setting that will
import the data into the area (whatever the length of the file) without adding
blank cells. Any ideas?

Are you talking about blank cells to the right, or additional rows? Have you
tried importing each file into a new worksheet and then copying the data in
to the final sheet? If this will not work, please explain why and we'll try
to help further.

 

[baggers]

Are you talking about blank cells to the right, or additional rows?

Additional rows: Excel seems to be padding at the bottom

Have you

tried importing each file into a new worksheet and then copying the data in
to the final sheet?

This could, in theory, work, but I don't want to do this as I am dealing with a large number of files and want to keep the data in one sheet if possible. Plus I want this to be a mostly automated process, and doing it as a manual cut & paste would be a pain.

If this will not work, please explain why and we'll try
to help further.

Hope that helps!

 

[Carl Witthoft]

Are you talking about blank cells to the right, or additional rows?

Additional rows: Excel seems to be padding at the bottom[/QUOTE]

Do your csv files have extra carriage returns at the bottom? THese will
be interpreted as rows on import.

Excel will import *exactly* what is in the csv files, so you may need
to figure out what's up with your source files.

The other thing I might suggest is that you import all your data into
one spreadsheet, but use a different sheet (tab) for your final desired
format/layout. Just link to specified cell ranges in the importing
sheet, and you should be fine.