Question

EXCEL CSV - keeps adding extra commas!

Asked by: hassalla

I am trying to modify a CSV export and reimport but every time i do the mod and save the new CSV (by telling EXCEL to keep it as a CSV and thereby lose any formatting) I cannot reimport because EXCEL has added commas to the empty cells. I have done this many times before and never had a problem and i can only think it is an option in tolls that i don't ahve selected on the PC i am currently using. Does anyone know how to stop EXCEL adding commas?

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Asked On
2004-12-04 at 14:55:39ID21230539
Tags

excel

,

csv

,

extra

,

commas

Topic

Miscellaneous

Participating Experts
7
Points
250
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: rshooper76Posted on 2004-12-04 at 17:03:37ID: 12746243

I would delete any non-used columns to the right of your last data column.  The only time I had a problem liek you described I was able to correct it by deleteing these columns.  Remember to remove the columns and not just delete the cells.  When you do any activity in as cell Excel will include that in any printing, exporting etc.  Please let me know if you need me to clarity this at all.

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2004-12-05 at 02:06:49ID: 12747347

also check what you have set as column and row separators in your exporting options but my money is with the comment above, a hidden column is likely to be the culprit.

 

by: bstrauss3Posted on 2004-12-05 at 07:34:55ID: 12748483

Even a stray space (invisible) anywhere to the right of the last 'meaningful' column ON ANY ROW will be seen as a value that needs to be exported.

So...

export the file and count the 'extra' columns.  Go over that many columns and delete it.

Or you can cheat and highlight the first 'empty' column all the way to the right and delete them all.

-----Burton

 

by: tapankhatriPosted on 2004-12-05 at 12:43:16ID: 12749602

Hassalla,

Try.

Click on DATA tab > Text to coloumns > delimited > comma > next > finish

Tapan.

 

by: patneysPosted on 2004-12-06 at 06:31:37ID: 12754226

Be sure your empty cells are really empty. Remove any spaces by replace all command with <nothing>.

 

by: rshooper76Posted on 2004-12-06 at 07:22:21ID: 12754712

I believe that everyone here believes that your problem boils down to Excel thinking there is some data in cell that don't need to be exported.  Liek I said earlier I woudl remove a bunch of columns.  I also believe thier is an option in the Export to skip cells from exporting.  Lets us know if you have any luck fixing this.

 

by: patneysPosted on 2004-12-06 at 08:03:04ID: 12755156

send me a file which you are trying to convert to <email removed by mlmcc PE> to check out.

 

by: mlmccPosted on 2004-12-07 at 07:48:20ID: 12764950

Using email to resolve a question is against EE policy
http://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hi99

mlmcc PE

 

by: mlmccPosted on 2004-12-07 at 07:49:29ID: 12764964

To check if you have an extra column somewhere
Open the report
Click the PREVIEW option
Show multiple pages
Do you have more pages than you would expect?

mlmcc

 

by: hassallaPosted on 2004-12-07 at 08:54:48ID: 12765762

thanks to all of you for your input. I must firstly apologise for making everyone wait but i had an unfortunate encounter with a Trojan which prevented me getting back online.

The answer was really to 'reconfigure' EXCEL' using the
Data>>Text to Columns>>Delimited>>Comma
to make the COMMA char a 'default' before I saved the file.

Rider to this is that the next time you open EXCEL it has defaulted back to a <TAB> delimiter!!!

 

by: NorElyodPosted on 2008-08-19 at 11:24:43ID: 22262403

Also note in Excel, if you add a character and then delete the character from that cell ALL of the cells in that column take on the attribute with that comma being added to a "used" column when saved as CSV.  It is a pain but following the removal of columns as stated previously will take care of it.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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