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How to correctly import an outlook inbox csv in excel

Anonymous
2017-03-13T13:57:34+00:00

Hello

Situation: I'm trying to export a shared inbox to excel for data analysis.

I'm using the export functionality in outlook to create a CSV file.

ref https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/290859/how-to-import-and-export-text-data-by-using-outlook

The problem: 

Outlook use the comma as the separator, therefore in Excel, when I use the  "Data -->Text to columns" functionality, it just works correctly for the headers, the rest of data is just a plain mess: everything is randomly separated based on the presence or not of commas in the emails body, subject line, recipient first and last name comma etc...

Is there a better way to convert the csv data in excel?

EDIT: Problem Solved - use Ms Access - Select External Data, More.. and then Outlook Folder

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Vijay A. Verma 104.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-03-13T15:18:50+00:00

    Are you checking Comma in step 2 of Text to Column Wizard?

    If yes and still the result is coming wrong, could you upload few lines of your csv file to onedrive - 

    Please make sure that it doesn't contain any confidential data which violates your organization's policy. If it does contain confidential data, you may look into considering replacing confidential data with dummy data.

    To upload to onedrive - 

    1. Zip your file.
    2. Login to https://onedrive.live.com/ utilizing the same Login ID and Password which you have used on this forum.
    3. Open the public folder.
    4. Click Upload in the top OR drag and drop the file here.
    5. After uploading, right click the file and choose share.
    6. Click Get a Link.
    7. Copy the link
    8. Copy and paste the link here.
    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2017-03-13T17:25:55+00:00

    Ok problem solved: I just found that the proper way to do this is via Ms Access not Excel.

    I just did a test and works perfectly.

    There is even a dedicated funtionality for this in Access:   *External Data, More..*and then Outlook Folder

    See the section Import from Outlook into Access:

    http://www.everydayanalytics.ca/2013/11/how-to-export-your-outlook-inbox-to-csv.html

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