Hi, Ron: The trick to retaining the leading zeros found in a CSV file in Excel is to import the file instead of opening. If using Excel 2007, I've made a habit of... 1. Clicking the 'Data' tab 2. Clicking 'From Text' in the Get External Data section 3. Select the CSV file from the "Import Text File" window 4. Follow the steps through the "Import Text Wizard" a. Step 1: Choose 'Delimited' b. Step 2: Choose 'Comma' c. Step 3: Select the column with the leading zeroes and click 'Text' from the "Column Data Format" d. Click Finish to close the Import Text Wizard window. 5. Click OK on the "Import Data" window.
It might sound like a lot of steps, but it'll save you some heartache. If you make a habit out of it, it takes less than 30 seconds to run through those steps above. In all fairness, you can use Excel or Access. I believe Access works the same way. Thank you, Michelle Lucero Service Desk Design and Build CNSLT - APPS PROG -----Original Message----- From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arslist@ARSLIST.ORG] On Behalf Of Grooms, Frederick W Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 8:33 AM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Re: Excel frustration with AIE and Data Imports I've used Access for things like that -----Original Message----- From: Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto:arslist@ARSLIST.ORG] On Behalf Of Ron Tavares Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 8:31 AM To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG Subject: Excel frustration with AIE and Data Imports ** Good Morning Listers, You how when you open a .csv file in Excel, Microsoft will do it's magic and start changing the format of certain values? As an example, it will drop the leading zeros form a value because it assumes it is numeric, (like a serial number). So you have to fix the data, format the column as 'text' and save the file. Then, the next time you open the file, the process starts all over again. I know I can use notepad to edit, but that is a pain. So I have two questions: 1) Is there a way to set a preference in Excel to say "Hey! don't do that!" 2) Assuming the answer to question one is no, is there another tool out there that works like Excel but is geared toward developer geeks? Sort of like what Notepad is for Windows, except it would display the data in column/row. I know I would really like a tool like that. Thanks, .ron ________________________________________________________________________ _______ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org attend wwrug11 www.wwrug.com ARSList: "Where the Answers Are" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This message w/attachments (message) is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or proprietary. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender, and then please delete and destroy all copies and attachments, and be advised that any review or dissemination of, or the taking of any action in reliance on, the information contained in or attached to this message is prohibited. Unless specifically indicated, this message is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any investment products or other financial product or service, an official confirmation of any transaction, or an official statement of Sender. Subject to applicable law, Sender may intercept, monitor, review and retain e-communications (EC) traveling through its networks/systems and may produce any such EC to regulators, law enforcement, in litigation and as required by law. The laws of the country of each sender/recipient may impact the handling of EC, and EC may be archived, supervised and produced in countries other than the country in which you are located. This message cannot be guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses. References to "Sender" are references to any subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Securities and Insurance Products: * Are Not FDIC Insured * Are Not Bank Guaranteed * May Lose Value * Are Not a Bank Deposit * Are Not a Condition to Any Banking Service or Activity * Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency. Attachments that are part of this EC may have additional important disclosures and disclaimers, which you should read. This message is subject to terms available at the following link: http://www.bankofamerica.com/emaildisclaimer. By messaging with Sender you consent to the foregoing. _______________________________________________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org attend wwrug11 www.wwrug.com ARSList: "Where the Answers Are"
