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Connect to a Flat File

This page of the Table Import Wizard enables you to connect to a flat file (.txt), tab-separated file (.tab), or a comma-separated file (.csv). To access the wizard from the PowerPivot window, on the Home tab, in the Get External Data group, click the type of data source from which you want to import tables. For more information, see Import Data from a File.

  • Friendly connection name
    Type a unique name for this data source connection. This is a required field.

  • File Path
    Specify a full path for the file.

  • Browse
    Navigate to a location where a file is available.

  • Column Separator
    Select from a list of available column separators. Choose a separator that is not likely to occur in the text.

    Value

    Description

    Tab (t)

    Columns are separated by a tab (t).

    Comma (,)

    Columns are separated by a comma (,).

    Semicolon (;)

    Columns are separated by a semicolon (;).

    Space ( )

    Columns are separated by a space ( ).

    Colon (:)

    Columns are separated by a colon (:).

    Vertical Bar (|)

    Columns are separated by a vertical bar (|).

  • Advanced
    Specify the encoding and locale options for the flat file.

  • Use first row as column headers
    Specify whether to use the first data row as the column headers of the destination table.

  • Data preview
    Preview the data in the selected file, and use the following options to modify the data import.

    Note

    Only the first 50 rows in the file are displayed in this preview.

    Option

    Description

    Checkbox in the column header

    Select the checkbox to include the column in the data import. Clear the checkbox to remove the column from the data import.

    Down-arrow button in the column header

    Sort and filter data in the column.

  • Clear Row Filters
    Remove all filters that were applied to the data in the columns.