Zeros and csv files

[Guest]

I am attempting to upload a csv file but when saving I lose my initial zero
in my spreadsheet due to the conversion to csv. I have tried EVERYTHING that
I have read on these discussion groups and to no avail...the zero is dropped
as soon as I save to csv. I have checked in notepad (zero is there),
converted to text, blah blah - but zero is dropped every time I convert to
csv.

 

[Doug Kanter]

I am attempting to upload a csv file but when saving I lose my initial zero
in my spreadsheet due to the conversion to csv. I have tried EVERYTHING
that
I have read on these discussion groups and to no avail...the zero is
dropped
as soon as I save to csv. I have checked in notepad (zero is there),
converted to text, blah blah - but zero is dropped every time I convert to
csv.

Are you talking about cells that should contain ONLY a zero, or are you
losing leading zeros, so that a number like "00456" becomes "456"?

 

[Guest]

Leads with a zero (7 digit number). I have tried custom formatting as well.
It is gone as soon as I convert to csv.

 

[Guest]

I have also changed the xls file to txt and imported into Excel formating
that zero digit column as text but again as soon as I save in csv format, the
zero is gone. I have to have this done by Monday and I am fed up.

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

It is when you open the csv file in excel it gets changed so the csv file
itself should have the leading zeros
if you are sending it to another program

--
Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

(No private emails please)

 

[Guest]

Thanks but no it isn't working - I am trying to upload this file to a student
information system and the SIS does not recognize the zeros even though I
know (and you know) they are there as they are viewable in Notepad. Any
other suggestions?

Lisa

 

[Doug Kanter]

Open the CSV file. Then, save as XLS. Now, pick an offending cell and use
the Format, Number thing to make a custom format, by entering the number of
zeros which represents how many characters each sell should have. I'd test
this, but I don't have Excel on the machine I'm stuck with this weekend.
But, I *believe* it will restore missing zeros. If it works, use Edit, Paste
Special to paste that format into all your cells.

 

[Guest]

Doug - Thanks but I have already tried custom formatting the column to force
the zeros to appear. This works in an xls file (then I get all excited)
until I save back in csv (only format that can be uploaded into our SIS) and
then the zeros are gone again. Any other suggestions?

 

[Doug Kanter]

Suggestion: Go to another newsgroup, comp.databases.paradox. Apologize
slightly for posting the problem there, and then fire away. Even though the
newsgroup is dedicated to Paradox, I've found there's always someone there
who has experienced problems like this. I think you'll be pleasantly
surprised. Let me know what you find out.

 

[Guest]

Sorry Doug but I have always found answers without ever posting so I don't
know the website well enough to find this newsgroup. Can you give
instructions on how to get to this newsgroup and I will grovel. Thanks.

 

[Doug Kanter]

Uh oh....I just realized that you got here via the primitive route. Are you
familiar with Outlook Express, Lisa?

 

[Guest]

Very familiar.

I went into work this morning and am sending the file to our SIS to see if
they can do anything. I did figure out that if I placed commas versus tabs
in my txt file it works but that means removing tabs and entering 8000
commas...don't think so.

 

[Doug Kanter]

Time out! Let me get this straight: They give you a .csv file, which you
import into Excel, do some kind of work on, and return to them in .csv
format? If this is the case, it might be worth asking if they can give you a
..DBF file instead. Excel can handle those nicely - I don't have many
problems with them. Obviously, they'll need to accept them back from you
when you're done working with them.

 

[Doug Kanter]

By the way, to access the REST of the world's newsgroups (as opposed to just
Microsoft's), using Outlook Express:

Tools, Accounts, Add, News, and then you'll be prompted for 3 things:
Display name, which doesn't matter. You can use your real name, or some
concocted nickname. Email address: Definitely do NOT put your real email
address here. Spammers harvest addresses from newsgroups, so your email
account will turn into a cesspool. Sign up for a free account at Yahoo or
Hotmail. Most responses to questions will NOT be sent to that address, so
you don't need to check it constantly, if ever. Finally, you'll be prompted
for your NNTP News Server info. You'll probably have to get that info from
your IS department's tech support person. Once that's done, the rest should
be self-explanatory. If not, ask here.

 

[Guest]

No. I receive the file from the district in xls form and have to upload it
to another server (drives my online grades) in csv format. One has nothing
to do with the other.

 

[Guest]

I am doing this from home not work. Our district IT department blocks these
things. I use Outlook but not Express at work - at home I use OE. I am a
lowly Bus Ed teacher and webmaster - in other words...I have no power.

 

[Doug Kanter]

In that case, the news server info will come from your web provider at home.
There should be info about this on their web site.

 

[Doug Kanter]

Lisa, if you want, save your xls file to another name, change any sensitive
info (names, etc) to something generic, and I'd be happy to take a look at
it. Email me at the hotmail address. This problem of yours sounds
interesting!

 

[Doug Kanter]

Lisa, check your email, in case you see this message first. Interesting
results from your spreadsheet.