Create an ASCII Fixed Length File from Excel

[Laura]

I need to create a fixed length file from an excel file that I have created.
Certain columns need to be defined as alpanumeric, decimal, etc. and each
field/column needs to have a certain position determined (1-10, 11-11, 12-21,
etc.).

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[David Biddulph]

Save As/ Formatted text (space delimited) .prn.
You'll probably have to experiment to get the column widths as you need
them; it may be easier if you change the font to a fixed-width font like
Courier, and then it may be easier to sort out your column widths..

 

[Laura]

Thank you for the help.

Is the column width determined by the number of pixels it shows when you
click on it and either expand it or contract it? Is this what sets the
position? Do you know how I can define a column as alphanumeric, integer,
decimal, etc?

 

[David Biddulph]

The column width is defined as a number of characters, rather than a number
of pixels. If you are using a fixed width font the number of characters
will be defined by the column width (but in a proportional font different
letters take a different width).
In Excel you can use Format Cells to format as text, as number (with a
specified number of decimal places, as general, or a variety of other
formats such as date, time, currency. When you save as text, the resulting
file is just text.