Opening up CSV docs in Excel, in Panther

[steve]

Every now and then I get a CSV document that Excel just won't open.

I can open it in Word, then save it as a text file, and THEN open it
in Excel, but it would be much easier if I could just open the dang
thing from the begining.

Any ideas?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Every now and then I get a CSV document that Excel just won't open.

I can open it in Word, then save it as a text file, and THEN open it
in Excel, but it would be much easier if I could just open the dang
thing from the begining.

What is the source of the CSV file? Can you open it in TextEdit?

 

[steve]

What is the source of the CSV file? Can you open it in TextEdit?

Yes, TextEdit opens the docs with no problem. The source (most
recently) has been results from surveys conducted through
SurveyMonkey, and also mailing lists generated from a PC based system.
(Don't know much about the specifics of that system. It's in a
different office...)

Any ideas?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

What is the source of the CSV file? Can you open it in TextEdit?

Yes, TextEdit opens the docs with no problem. The source (most
recently) has been results from surveys conducted through
SurveyMonkey, and also mailing lists generated from a PC based system.
(Don't know much about the specifics of that system. It's in a
different office...)

Any ideas?[/QUOTE]

Hmm...

I've never seen a file that Word would open that Excel wouldn't. Have
you tried using the Data/Get External Data/Import Text File... menu item?

 

[steve]

With the "Import Text File," the CVS files in question are grayed out.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

With the "Import Text File," the CVS files in question are grayed out.

Select "All Files" from the Enable dropdown in the Import Text file
dialog.

 

[steve]

Oh yeah... Well, that makes me feel dumb. OK, so I can import the
text. Is there any reason I can't just open it straight from the
finder?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Oh yeah... Well, that makes me feel dumb. OK, so I can import the
text. Is there any reason I can't just open it straight from the
finder?

Try selecting a .csv file and choosing File/Get Info. In the Open With
pane, choose XL and click the Change All button.

 

[steve]

Try selecting a .csv file and choosing File/Get Info. In the Open With
pane, choose XL and click the Change All button.

Excel is grayed out. It won't let me select it... I have the cabaility
of opening the doc in Entourahe, PowerPoint or Word, but not in Excel.
This is just the weirdest problem.

 

[Sean Arney]

Use the Get External Data - you are trying to open a "data source" really,
not a text file per say right?


-seanA