How to Open CSV Files

CSV (Comma-separated value: comma-separated values) are files that contain data from tables listed in plain text, such as email contact information. Although CSV files can be opened in many programs (such as editors), the data within this format will be most fully displayed in spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel, OpenOffice Calc or Google Sheets (Google Sheets). You will need to select 'Open' from the 'File' menu, select the CSV file and adjust the delimiter settings if the data is not displaying properly. The same steps can be applied on Google Sheets, but this requires you to upload the file to Google servers. The work process will run more smoothly if you arrange data neatly and scientifically!

By Microsoft Excel

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Launch Microsoft Excel on the computer.

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Click the 'File' menu and select 'Open' in the upper left corner. The file browser window on your computer will open.

You can also press Ctrl+ O(Windows) or ⌘ Cmd+ O(Mac) to perform the same task.

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Select the CSV file and click 'Open'. The file will open and display in a new Excel spreadsheet.

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Click the 'Data' tab to access the 'Text to Columns' wizard (optional). If Excel displays the entire text of the CSV file in one column, this option will help the program analyze the data better. The Data tab is in the top menu bar and displays a set of data-specific options.

If you only want to split into certain columns, click and drag the mouse cursor to highlight the columns to split.

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Click 'Text to Columns'. This is one of the options located in the data tab, clicking on it will open the 'Text to Columns' wizard.

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Select 'Delimited' then click 'Next'. The delimiter sets the boundary between data points in the text file (in this case, a comma).

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Select the 'Comma' check box and click 'Finish'. All text that was previously separated by commas will be separated by columns.

By OpenOffice Calc

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Download and open OpenOffice Calc . Select your operating system from the drop-down menu then click 'Download'. Launch the installer and select the The OpenOffice office product you want to include in the installation process. The only product you need to open CSV files is OpenOffice Calc.

OpenOffice is free software.

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Click the 'File' menu and select 'Open'. This menu is in the upper left corner and will open a file browsing window on your computer.

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Select the CSV file and click 'Open'. The file opens in the OpenOffice Calc spreadsheet program.

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Click the 'Data' menu and select 'Text to Columns' (optional). If OpenOffice Ccalc does not divide the data properly, you can set the delimiter yourself. The Data menu is in the top menu bar.

If you only want to split into certain columns, click and drag the mouse cursor to highlight the columns to split.

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Select the 'Separate By' radio button. This option is located under the 'Separator Options' heading.

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Check the 'Comma' box then click 'OK'. All text that was previously separated by commas will be separated by columns.

Using Google Sheets

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Visit Google Sheets using a web browser and sign in to your Google account. Enter username and password then click 'Sign in'.

Google Sheets is free, but you need a Google account to use it. If you don't have a Google account, click 'Create Account' and follow the on-screen instructions to create a Google username and password.

Google Sheets can also be used through its main product, Google Drive.

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