How can I save a csv with utf-8 encoding using Excel 2013?

Question

Hi!

I would like so save a csv file from an Excel 2013 sheet with utf-8 encoding. I have not seen an option for this in the user interface. However there is an option after pressing save under the tools dropdown list / webalternatives / encoding. But if I select utf-8 there it has no effect.

Does someone know how to do this?

/Peter

Answer 1

One easy way to change excel ANSI encoding to UTF-8 is the open the .csv file in notepad then select File > Save As. Now at the bottom you will see encoding it set to ANSI change it to UTF-8 and save the file as new file and then your done. If someone has a program or script that can do this without notepad I sure would like to know how.

Hope this info helps someone.

Answer 2

Hi Peter,

I would need more details to assist you:

What difference are you trying to achieve when you save the .csv file in UTF 8 encoding?

Which type of .csv format is the file saved in ( CSV: Comma Delimited/CSV: MS-DOS/CSV:Macintosh)?

Provide more details to assist you better.

Answer 3

Hi Peter,

 

I would need more details to assist you:

What difference are you trying to achieve when you save the .csv file in UTF 8 encoding?

Which type of .csv format is the file saved in ( CSV: Comma Delimited/CSV: MS-DOS/CSV:Macintosh)?

 

Provide more details to assist you better.

I'm not Peter, but I've also wanted this for a long time with Excel. The general requirement here is to support more characters. CSV is often the import/export format for various other applications, and in my own case, localization tools. So foreign character sets are my friends.

Unfortunately, Excel has historically not offered support for saving CSV with a custom encoding. I've so far just used other spreadsheet software when these needs arise.

Answer 4

Hi Joshua,

UTF-8 is an encoding set that can contain any Unicode character. Unfortunately, not all applications can encode files in UTF-8 by default, and Microsoft Excel is one of them.

Instead of Unicode, Excel encodes CSV files using ANSI.

Hope this information is helpful.

Answer 5

Hi!

I realized that Excel will not help me with my problem per see. I have to create a macro to save my file as I want to.

Thanks for your input.

/Peter