CSV file in excel is trimming leading 0's

[Delta223]

I notice that my csv list of addresses from the northeast area is trimming a lot of zip codes that atart with 0's. this is probably also happening on the address columns for some addresses or box numbers with leading 0s. is there any way to turn this function off?

[NBVC]

Save the .csv as .txt file,

Then when you open it, go through the wizard,

Select Delimited, click Next, Select Commas, click next, then select the column(s) in the the preview pane that have leading zeroes and select Text from the Data Column Format area... then click Finish.

[Delta223]

this works when i save it as an xlsm file, but whenever i try to save it as a CSV, the leading zeros are trimmed again. I need to have a CSV file... is there anything else tht can be done?

[JBeaucaire]

Save as a text file. Then rename the file to CSV. Your mileage may vary.

[Delta223]

the files can not be initially created as a .txt file. they are output as a CSV

[NBVC]

Find the File in Windows Explorer and change the extension to .txt

Then open that in Excel and hopefully be presented with the Text-To-Columns Wizard.

Select Delimited and click Next

Select Comma and click Next

Select the column(s) you want to remain as TEXT instead of Numbers and then choose TEXT from the Column Data Format area and click Finish.

[Delta223]

Thanks, I believe these are the same instructions correct? To show you what occurs when I follow your instructions, I've created a camtasia recording (6 mb in size):

http://www.filedropper.com/12610csvproblemc

[pike]

Hi Delta223
Can you zip and attach the file?

[Delta223]

Hi, I zipped the file, but was unable to upload it as an attachment here. I tried to and the error response was "upload of file failed." It might be because the zip file is still about 5.7 mb,

[NBVC]

I see what you mean.. I guess converting it back to .csv is resetting the column to numbers...

... not sure what else to suggest except keeping it as .txt or .xls file... which I know you don't want...

[pike]

hi Delta223
The only way I could keep the O's in the csv is to add a " sufix to the data.
then format the import as text and remove the ". Looks like txt is the best option

[Delta223]

Ok, I finally got it to work by doing the following:

1. changing all files to text files.
2. delimiting the file and marking the problem columns as "text"
3. saving the file as a tab delimited .txt file (my CSV importer was able to accept this format!)

[pike]

well done!