How To Convert CSV Files to Excel (Plus Definition and Tips)

Data is an important part of any business or organization. As such, it is important to be able to easily access, analyze, and manipulate your data to effectively use it for your business. Many times, the data that you need for your business is stored in a CSV (comma-separated values) file. While this is a great way to store data, it can be difficult to analyze and use in the way that you need. To make the most of your data, you need to be able to convert it from the CSV file into a format that is more accessible, such as an Excel spreadsheet. In this blog post, we will outline the steps to convert your CSV file into an Excel spreadsheet so that you can make the most of your data.

1. Open the Excel spreadsheet where you want to save the data and click the Data tab.
2. In the Get External Data group, click From Text.
3. Select the TXT or CSV file you want to convert and click Import.
4. Select “Delimited”. …
5. Click Next.

CSV file vs. XLS file

Commas are used to separate different values in CSV files, which save data in plain text format. The binary file format used by Excel files, or XLS files, saves both the content and formatting of the document. Unlike CSV files, which prevent the use of formulas and other functions for data analysis, Excel allows users to manipulate and perform operations on the data within the file.

CSV files have the advantage of frequently using less memory and importing data more quickly than an XLS file. Text editors allow you to access CSV files, but they do not allow you to open Excel files.

What is a CSV file?

A comma-separated values file, or CSV file, is a text file that can be opened by a wide range of applications, particularly those that display content as plain text. Although CSV files can contain the same information as other types of files, they organize their content differently. CSV files use commas to separate information. Spreadsheets and other structured data can be shared more easily between programs with this format than they might be able to with other file types. In the event that two programs can both open CSV files, you can exchange data between them.

Why would you need to convert a CSV file to an Excel file?

You might need to convert CSV data into an Excel file for a number of reasons, including:

To accept large files

Due to the size of the files they send, extensive databases frequently export their files into a CSV format. You can change a CSV file into an XLS file if you receive it and want to access the data it contains. This can assist you in processing the data and carrying out your desired operations.

To sort a lot of data

When you analyze data from a CSV file in Excel, you can create formulas to extract particular data points from sizable databases.

For instance, you could change a CSV file containing details about fresh website visitors into an Excel file. Because the values in the CVS file are separated by commas, you can write precise instructions to pull information from specific locations on the document, such as after the sixth comma, which may correlate to information about the towns where the new users reside. Once the values are displayed for the particular location, Excel can help you analyze a particular subset of your data.

To edit the file

You cannot change the formatting of CSV files or perform more sophisticated editing operations on the document because they only display plain text. By converting your file to an XLS file, you can carry out tasks like chart creation, formula usage, and data organization. You can increase your ability to work with and manipulate your text file by saving it as an Excel file.

How to covert CSV to Excel

Here are some steps you can follow if you need to convert your CSV file into an XLS file:

1. Open the file in your destination spreadsheet

Open the Excel spreadsheet where you want to save your data before importing your file. Then, from the available tabs at the top of your screen, choose the “Data” option. Select the “From Text” option with a two pages icon in the “Get External Data” section on the leftmost side of the screen. Locate the document you wish to import and select it so that it appears in the “File name:” text box before choosing “Import.” “.

2. Choose how to import your data

Select “Delimited” when the “Text Import Wizard” pop-up window appears. Then click “Next,” and from the list of delimiter choices, pick the one that provides the best preview of your data—for a CSV file, this is probably commas—and click “Next.” When youre satisfied with your preview, select “Next. Among the options for column data formats available to you, “General” is probably the best choice. Finally, confirm your decision using the data preview, then click “Finish.” “.

3. Place your data in the worksheet

Finally, select “Existing worksheet” from the new pop-up window titled “Import Data” to complete opening your CSV file in Excel. Make sure to enter “$A$1” in the custom field before your choice so that the program knows to start your data in the spreadsheet’s first row and column. Finally, select “OK. “.

4. Save your work

Make sure to save your work once the file has been converted on your computer. As you make adjustments, such as editing column headers, removing special characters, and updating the files’ formatting, keep saving. Frequently saving your work ensures that you won’t lose important changes.

Tips for using CSV and XLS files

Additional pointers for using text and Excel files successfully are provided below:

Dont make important formatting changes to a CSV file

Changes you make to a CSV file, such as changing the font size, adding charts, or changing the formatting, won’t be saved in the file. Changes to the file’s characters and values can be saved, but formatting changes cannot be saved. Make sure to alter the Excel document so that you can save the modifications.

Review Excel formulas and tips

Many functions in Excel can be used to organize, compare, and comprehend data. If you frequently open files containing a lot of data, learn how to use Excel to perform the tasks you need to. Your efficiency and skills can increase as you gain confidence in the program, which will help your resume.

Use the data preview

Be sure to consult the data preview after each selection when converting your data. The preview can provide an indication of how your text will appear once you have finished importing the file. You can use this feature to check that you’ve made all the appropriate choices and that all of your data is aligned with the appropriate column headers.

Please be aware that Indeed is not connected to any of the products mentioned in this article.

How to Import CSV File Into Excel

FAQ

How do I convert CSV to Excel for free?

1. Choose the CSV file that you want to convert.
2. Choose XLS as the destination format for your CSV file conversion.
3. Click “Convert” to convert your CSV file.

How do I open a CSV file in Excel with columns?

1. Open a new Excel sheet.
2. Click the Data tab, then From Text.
3. Choose the CSV file with the data grouped into a single column.
4. Make sure the File Origin is Unicode UTF-8 after selecting Delimited.
5. Select Comma (this is Affinity’s default list separator). …
6. Finally, click Finish.