What Is the CSV File Everything You Need to Know
If you work with data, you’ve probably come across CSV files. But what are they? How do you open them? And how can you convert them to other formats? In this article, we’ll answer all those questions and more. We’ll start by explaining what CSV files are and how they work. Then we’ll show you how to open them in Excel and other programs. Finally, we’ll explain how to convert them to other formats.
In This Article
What is the CSV file?
A CSV file is a comma-separated values file, which means that it is a text file that contains data that is separated by commas. CSV files are often used to store data from databases or spreadsheets, and they can be opened in spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
CSV files are very simple to work with and are supported by nearly all spreadsheet and database applications. They are typically saved with a .csv file extension. Most CSV files use commas to separate the values, but other delimiters, such as tabs or spaces, can be used instead.
How to make?
There are many ways to create a CSV file. In this article, we’ll focus on two common methods: using a text editor such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, and using a dedicated CSV creation tool.
If you’re using a text editor:
- Open your text editor and create a new document.
- Type in the data you want to include in your CSV file, with each piece of information separated by a comma. For example:
Name,Address,Phone number
John Smith,123 Main Street,555-1234
Jane Doe,456 Elm Street,555-5678
- Save your document as a CSV file. To do this in Excel, go to File > Save As, then select “CSV” from the drop-down menu next to “Save as type.” In Google Sheets, go to File > Download As, then select “Comma-separated values.”
If you’re using a CSV creation tool:
- Open your chosen CSV creation tool.
- Enter the data you want to include in your CSV file, with each piece of information separated by a comma.
- Save your document as a CSV file. Most CSV creation tools will have an option to do this; if not, simply choose “Save As” and select “CSV” from the drop-down menu next to “Save as type.”
That’s all there is to create a CSV file! Once you have your file saved, you can open it in any spreadsheet program to view and edit your data.
How to view a CSV file in a text editor?
When you open a file in a text editor, you will see the data values separated by commas. Each line in the file is a row of data, and each column is separated by a comma. For example, here is a small CSV file that contains three rows of data:
Name,Age,City
John Doe,32,New York
Jane Smith,27,Los Angeles
Tommy Atkins,42,London
As you can see, each row of data is separated by a new line, and each column of data is separated by a comma.
How to Open in a Spreadsheet Program?
In order to open a CSV file in a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel, you will need to use the prog’s “Open” function. This can usually be found under the “File” menu. Once you have located the “Open” function, select it and then browse for the CSV file you wish to open. Once you have found the file, double-click on it to open it in the spreadsheet program.
How do I open it in Excel?
There are two ways to open a CSV file in Excel:
The first way is to double-click on the CSV file. This will launch Excel and automatically open the CSV file.
The second way is to launch Excel and then go to File > Open. In the “Files of type” drop-down menu, select All Files (*.*). Then, select the CSV file you want to open.
CSV file is not opening correctly in Excel
If your file is not opening correctly in Excel, it may be because there are some hidden characters in the file. To fix this, go to Data > Get External Data > Import Text File. In the “Files of type” drop-down menu, select All Files (*.*). Then, select your CSV file and click Import.
In the next window, make sure that the “File origin” is set to 65001: Unicode (UTF-8). Then, click the “Load” button.
Your CSV file should now open correctly in Excel.
How to Convert?
There are several ways to convert a CSV file to another format. How to use three popular desktop programs – Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, and Apple Numbers – to convert a CSV file to Excel’s XLSX format.
Microsoft Excel is a popular spreadsheet program that can open and save CSV files. To convert a CSV file to XLSX, you can use the File > Save As feature. When saving the file, simply select the XLSX file format from the drop-down list.
LibreOffice Calc is a free and open-source spreadsheet program that can also open and save CSV files. To convert a CSV file to XLSX in LibreOffice Calc, go to File > Save As, select the XLSX file format from the drop-down list, and then click the Save button.
Apple Numbers is a spreadsheet program that comes pre-installed on all Mac computers. To convert a CSV file to XLSX in Numbers, go to File > Export To > Microsoft Excel, and then select the XLSX file format from the drop-down list.
You can also use Google Spreadsheets. Choose XLSX, ODS, PDF, or any other supported format from the File > Save as menu.
How do I convert CSV to utf8?
There are many ways to convert CSV to utf8. One way is to use Google Sheets.
Open the CSV file in Google Sheets.
- Click File > Download as > UTF-8 encoded Comma Separated Values (.csv).
Another way is to use LibreOffice Calc.
- Open the CSV file in LibreOffice Calc.
- Click File > Save As.
- In the “Save as type” drop-down menu, select Text CSV (.csv).
- In the “Character set” drop-down menu, select Unicode (UTF-8).
You can also use Notepad++ to convert CSV to utf8.
- Open the CSV file in Notepad++.
- Click Encoding > Convert to UTF-8.
There are also a number of free file converters that operate in your browser. like Freeconvert for instance, the program can also convert CSV files to many of the above-mentioned file types, as well as PDF and RTF.
Conclusion
We’ve shown you how to create a CSV file and how to open it in a text editor and spreadsheet program. We’ve also shown you how to convert a CSV file to another format, such as XLSX, TXT, PDF, XML, SQL, HTML, ODS, and more. Creating and working with CSV files is a common task when dealing with data.
FAQs
Are CSV files safe?
Yes, this is safe. They are just text files with a .csv extension that contain a list of the column headers in the first row, followed by data rows. CSV files do not contain any formulas or macros, so they are not able to harm your computer.
Can I merge multiple CSV files?
Yes, you can merge CSV files by using a text editor such as Microsoft Word, Text Edit, or Sublime. Open up the first file in your text editor and copy its contents. Next, open up the second file and paste the contents into it below the first CSV’s data.
What is the difference between CSV and CSV UTF-8?
CSV is a comma-separated values file format. It is used to store data in a tabular form. The data can be easily edited and viewed in a text editor. CSV UTF-8 is a variant of the CSV format that uses UTF-8 encoding to store Unicode characters.
How do I convert CSV to SQL?
There are many ways to convert CSV to SQL. One way is to use the online converter at convertcsv.com/csv-to-sql.htm.
