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Instructions for Opening CSV formatted files

1. If your PC automatically associates the CSV file with MS Excel

  1. The icon displayed in your email or the icon displayed in Windows Explorer will be the MS Excel icon.

  2. To open the file: simply click on the file as you would to open any other file-Excel will open and display the file for your use.

  3. To save the file as a native MS Excel XLS formatted file (instead of a CSV formatted file)

    1. Use the menu sequence: File / Save As. This will open the Save As dialog box.

    2. At the very bottom of the Save As dialog box is a "drop down" selection box with the label: Save as type. Press the down arrow symbol on the right edge of the drop down selection box. A list of File Types will be displayed: click on Microsoft Excel Workbook.

    3. After you have chosen the location on your PC or network to save the file (use the Save in drop down selection box or select the folders listed in the window), click the Save button-and you're done.

2. If your PC does not automatically associate the CSV formatted file with MS Excel

  1. The icon displayed in your email or the icon displayed in Windows Explorer will NOT be the MS Excel icon.

  2. To open the file: first, you will have to know the location of the email attachment file or you will need move the file to a location on your PC or network.

    1. Open MS Excel.

    2. Use the menu sequence: File / Open.

    3. Select the folder where the file is located

    4. At the very bottom of the Open dialog box is a "drop down" selection box with the label: Files of type. Press the down arrow symbol on the right edge of the drop down selection box. A list of File Types will be displayed: click on the item Text Files (*.prn, *.txt,*.csv)

    5. The CSV formatted file should now be listed in the window. Click on the File

    6. MS Excel will open a new Dialog Box with the title: Text Import Wizard - Step 1 of 3.

      1. In the section labeled: Original Data Type, click Delimited.

      2. Click the Next button at the bottom, the title of the Dialog Box will change to: Text Import Wizard - Step 2 of 3.

      3. In the section labeled: Delimiters, click on Comma.

      4. In the section labeled: Text Qualifier, choose the "double quote"

      5. Click the Finish Button. Excel will open and display the file for your use.

  3. To Save the file as an Excel for future use, follow the steps in item 1.c. above.