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Convert Files to CSV Format

This topic explains how to convert Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (*.xls), Microsoft Access database tables (*.mdb) and Microsoft Word tables (*.doc) to comma-separated (CSV) format.

Because CSV files can be read by almost any computer program, it is a very useful format for shared data. Also, it's easy to view CSV files in Excel and other spreadsheet programs.

This topic has the following sections:

Convert a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

To save a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet in CSV format:

  1. In Excel, from the File menu, select Save As.
  2. In the Save As box, click the Save as type drop down list, and select CSV (Comma Delimited) (*.csv) or any available *.csv format.

You can keep your Excel file in CSV format. When you open it, Excel displays it as a table.

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Convert a Microsoft Access Database

To save a Microsoft Access database table in CSV format:

  1. In Access, click the DiniData table.
    (For more information, see Preparing Access Database Files.)
  2. From the File menu, select Export.
  3. In the Save As box, click the Save as type drop down list, and select Text Files (*.txt, *.csv, *.tab, *.asc) or any available *.txt format.
  4. On the first Export Text Wizard page, click Delimited, and then click Next.
  5. On the second Export Text Wizard page, in the Choose delimiter field, click Comma. Also, click Include field names on first row and make sure the Text Qualifier is set to double quotes ("). Then, click Next.
  6. In the Export to File box, change the filename extension from .txt to .csv, and then click Finish.

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Convert a Microsoft Word Table

To save an Microsoft Word (*.doc) table in CSV format:

  1. Click to select (highlight) the entire table.
  2. In the Table menu, click Convert Table to Text (or click Convert and then point to Table to Text)
  3. In the Convert Table to Text dialog box, click Commas and then click OK.

    You now have a comma-separated table. Next, we'll save the file.

  4. From the File menu, select Save As.
  5. In the Save As box, click the Save as type drop down list, and select Text only (.txt) or Text with line breaks (*.txt). Also, change the filename extension from .txt to .csv.
  6. Microsoft Word displays a warning about losing formating information. Just click OK.

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