Prevent "Save as CSV" From changing a file

**PY_** · 09-08-2010, 12:35 PM

I am not exactly sure how to word my question so i took a stab in the dark.

My problem is, when i open a CSV file, and then save it as a different name, it adds information to the new file when i compare the two using Wordpad.exe. How can i open Book1 in excel, change the job number to 15408, and then save it so it does not change the way the file looks when i open it with Wordpad.exe?

Book1 and Book2 was the same file (just copied and renamed). I opened Book2 in excel, changed the job number, hit Save, hit Yes to the CSV prompt, and closed it hitting No to the save request. After doing so, when i compare the original Book1 to Book2 in Word, they now look totally different.

See attached:

Book1 (original created by another program)
Book2 (my attempt to just edit the number and hit save)

**xenixman** · 09-09-2010, 11:30 AM

How can i open Book1 in excel, change the job number to 15408, and then save it so it does not change the way the file looks when i open it with Wordpad.exe?

You can't, as far as I know.
BUT, why are you bothering?

Just open the file with Wordpad,
edit the number,
save.
No extraneous characters.

**PY_** · 09-09-2010, 12:31 PM

I am trying to generate my own csv files that will work with another program. The problem currently is that i have to generate the csv, save it, close it, open the csv with wordpad, do a find and replace for 3 different things (because of the excel formatting it does), then save it.

**xenixman** · 09-09-2010, 05:21 PM

I still don't see what your problem is.

If the only reason your opening the CSV file in Excel is to edit three values ( or a hundred),
then you can do the same thing with any text editing program, such as Notepad, Wordpad, or Jedit.
A CSV (Comma Separated Values) file, is a simple Text file where the Values have been separated by commas. No special formatting required. As long as you don't mess with the comma's you should have no problems.

If you need an additional copy, then simply do a save as with a new name.

Or am I missing something??

**PY_** · 09-13-2010, 12:57 PM

I am trying to actually generate my own CSV files from scratch using Excel not just edit existing ones.

But after making one, and saving it as a CSV, it has all that extra information in the file that cant bee seen unless you open it with wordpad.

The whole reason im making my own CSV files is so they can be used with a 3rd program that reads the files and gathers the information from them. But, when they have all the extra information in them, it cant read them.

Hopefully all that made sense.