Instead of using " " (a space character), what happens if you use a formula that
evaluates to ""? (I used ="" in my first suggestion.)



Geri wrote:
>
> If I put something in the last field when there is nothing there now that
> becomes a value --- that value can be " ". I'm sending this over to a
> database for import .... I need to keep the data as clean as possible - this
> is going over to the mainframe.
>
> Of course, one answer would be for them to manipulate the data by deleting
> the last field but that would mean opening it in Excel again and trying to
> re-save it as a .csv file which wouldn't work.
>
> I know this worked before without something in the last column because I've
> done it - which is why I'm so frustrated with this new "function".
>
> thanks for your help ....
> --
> Geri Smith
>
> "Dave Peterson" wrote:
>
> > I'm not sure what you mean by "contend with nulls". And I'm not sure what you
> > want.
> >
> > This KB article describes what's happening--it goes back to Excel 5.0, so it's
> > pretty old.
> >
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=77295
> > Column Delimiters Missing in Spreadsheet Saved as Text
> >
> > Geri wrote:
> > >
> > > So, if I'm importing this into a database I then have to contend with Nulls?
> > >
> > > I know this worked before without having to go through populating blank
> > > fields .... any idea what changed? -- or is this a bug? That was the beauty
> > > of Excel - you could get a "clean" .csv file but I guess all good things must
> > > pass at some time.
> > >
> > > thanks,
> > >
> > > Geri Smith
> > >
> > > "Dave Peterson" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Put something in that last column.
> > > >
> > > > Select the last column
> > > > edit|goto|special|select blanks
> > > > type
> > > > =""
> > > > hit ctrl-enter
> > > >
> > > > Now you have something in those cells, so each line will get the commas.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Geri wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I have a spreadsheet that's 625 rows x 11 columns the first 4 columns are
> > > > > populated in all rows. The problem is that the remaining 7 columns have no
> > > > > data in them but need to be imported by another program showing a "null" in
> > > > > those columns.
> > > > >
> > > > > Try as I might, Excel will only put commas at the ends of the first 16
> > > > > records after which it ceases to do this. We get the message that Excel "may
> > > > > contain features that are not compatible with CSV". When the file gets to
> > > > > the other end, needless to say, it's pretty much useless. How do I get Excel
> > > > > to recognize all the cells, regardless?
> > > > > --
> > > > > Geri Smith
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > > Dave Peterson
> > > >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Dave Peterson
> >

--

Dave Peterson