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default setting to correctly open a csv file

Anonymous
2023-09-06T11:52:10+00:00

Hi there,

I'm trying to open a csv file in excel, but the columns are messed up, and I cannot fix it so there is a clear overview of data for every specific column.

I have tried to select a column (and not selecting at all); went to data and then text to with comma, but nothing changes.

This always happens, and i want to know if there is a default setting that i can change, so i can directly import the csv file and all columns are correct.

Thanks in advance!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-09-07T08:25:57+00:00

    Hi Dave,

    I found it, took me a while because everything is in Dutch. the decimal should be comma i assume?

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  2. DaveM121 885K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-09-06T14:09:36+00:00

    I think I see the issue,

    Your decimal separator is set to a command and list separator is set to a decimal point and CSV files expect the list (thousands) separator set as comma

    In Excel settings, temporarily set the list (thousands) separator to a comma, save that setting, restart Excel and then try opening the CSV file.

    .

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-09-06T13:55:27+00:00

    they are downloaded from a research platform as a csv file, i am not creating them myself.

    when i asked someone else to download the data, this will just correctly show everything like it is supposed to.

    i provided screenshots of my settings:

    the internet also said to select: ignore applications that use DDE ( but i don't know if this is correct and it didn't change anything before)

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  4. DaveM121 885K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-09-06T14:42:44+00:00

    If you uncheck the 'Use system separators' and the decimal separator is set to dot and the thousands separator is set to a coma, the CSV file should work correctly.

    Open the old Control panel, at the top set View to icons, then open the Region applet.

    Click 'Advanced Settings' please provide a screenshot of the Numbers tab on the resulting dialog.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-09-06T12:40:54+00:00

    Hi Dave,

    I could only open the file with wordpad, can I use this or do i need notepad?

    I tried to open a file while notepad was open, but i could not select the csv file from my laptop.

    The photo below is from wordpad.

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