[Solved] Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
[Solved] Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
I am trying to open a text file that has space delimited data in it but after going to 'open' in calc and selecting the file, it opens the text file in writer. If I open the file from command line (scalc file.dat) it gives me the 'text import' tool. How do I get the 'text import' tool to open like it does with Microsoft Excel by selecting 'open' from the 'file' menu?
Last edited by Hagar Delest on Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: tagged the thread as Solved.
Reason: tagged the thread as Solved.
Re: Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
Change the file name extension to csv.
Please, edit this topic's initial post and add "[Solved]" to the subject line if your problem has been solved.
Ubuntu 18.04 with LibreOffice 6.0, latest OpenOffice and LibreOffice
Ubuntu 18.04 with LibreOffice 6.0, latest OpenOffice and LibreOffice
Re: Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
no need to change the file name:
go to directory where the file is located, choose Text CSV (*.csv; *.txt) as filter in OPEN dialogue and type file name, hit ENTER.
go to directory where the file is located, choose Text CSV (*.csv; *.txt) as filter in OPEN dialogue and type file name, hit ENTER.
Re: Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
There are a couple of ways to do this.
One is:
1) File > Open
2) Select your file "file.dat"
3) Use the "File Type" drop down to select "Text CSV" (scroll down the list; it's in with the other spreadsheet formats)
4) OK
That will specify a file name and a file type that opens in Calc.
However, I don't recommend that you use this method.
When you File > Open any file in OOo, OOo edits that file--just like if you opened a spreadsheet document. Calc will behave exactly as if you were working on a spreadsheet, but when you save the file, it will only save CSV text not a full spreadsheet. If you forget that you are working on a CSV file and not a spreadsheet file, you can lose work.
I prefer this method:
1) Insert > Sheet From File
2-4) same as above
That brings in the data but keeps the working document as a full, normal spreadsheet.
One is:
1) File > Open
2) Select your file "file.dat"
3) Use the "File Type" drop down to select "Text CSV" (scroll down the list; it's in with the other spreadsheet formats)
4) OK
That will specify a file name and a file type that opens in Calc.
However, I don't recommend that you use this method.
When you File > Open any file in OOo, OOo edits that file--just like if you opened a spreadsheet document. Calc will behave exactly as if you were working on a spreadsheet, but when you save the file, it will only save CSV text not a full spreadsheet. If you forget that you are working on a CSV file and not a spreadsheet file, you can lose work.
I prefer this method:
1) Insert > Sheet From File
2-4) same as above
That brings in the data but keeps the working document as a full, normal spreadsheet.
AOO4/LO5 • Linux • Fedora 23
Re: Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
5) Save as ODTacknak wrote:There are a couple of ways to do this.
One is:
1) File > Open
2) Select your file "file.dat"
3) Use the "File Type" drop down to select "Text CSV" (scroll down the list; it's in with the other spreadsheet formats)
4) OK
CSV can also only cope with one sheet, so all sheets but the current one will be lost when you save.acknak wrote:When you File > Open any file in OOo, OOo edits that file--just like if you opened a spreadsheet document. Calc will behave exactly as if you were working on a spreadsheet, but when you save the file, it will only save CSV text, not a full spreadsheet. If you forget that you are working on a CSV file and not a spreadsheet file, you can lose work.
Re: Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
Thank you very much for all the suggestions. They are very helpful.
Re: [Solved] Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
Sorry for chiming in here after the "Solved" tagging.
But both methods described here DO NOT WORK for me at all.
No matter which way I take OO always opens the file in Writer and Writer can't save it as .csv.
OO 2.3.1, Win XP SP2
But both methods described here DO NOT WORK for me at all.
No matter which way I take OO always opens the file in Writer and Writer can't save it as .csv.
OO 2.3.1, Win XP SP2
- kingfisher
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Re: [Solved] Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
Now that the thread is tagged as solved, you would improve your chances of getting help if you start a new thread, eikelein.
I suggest you give more details of the file you want to open in Calc and, if it's not sensitive, upload it.
The need to open such files in Calc has been the subject of various issues. The method suggested by acknak is the official workaround. It's time consuming if you need to open a number of such files.
Are you not able to create a new spreadsheet and use Menu: Insert >Sheet from file?
I suggest you give more details of the file you want to open in Calc and, if it's not sensitive, upload it.
The need to open such files in Calc has been the subject of various issues. The method suggested by acknak is the official workaround. It's time consuming if you need to open a number of such files.
Are you not able to create a new spreadsheet and use Menu: Insert >Sheet from file?
Last edited by kingfisher on Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.9 on Linux
Re: [Solved] Opening Text File to Convert to Spreadsheet
These methods do work, we just have to figure out why they're not working for you.
There's no problem to continue a "SOLVED" thread. In fact, the solution to your side of the problem may help someone else, so don't worry about it.
Please describe exactly what you're trying to do, and what you did, and what happened when you did it---step by step: what your data looks like (give a sample if you can), what menus you used, what keys you pressed, all that stuff.
PS: Here's a sample: Starting from a Writer window, I opened a programming code source file (text) named "gauge-new.pl" in a Calc spreadsheet:
You do have complete control over where the file opens, it's just not terribly convenient.
There's no problem to continue a "SOLVED" thread. In fact, the solution to your side of the problem may help someone else, so don't worry about it.
Please describe exactly what you're trying to do, and what you did, and what happened when you did it---step by step: what your data looks like (give a sample if you can), what menus you used, what keys you pressed, all that stuff.
PS: Here's a sample: Starting from a Writer window, I opened a programming code source file (text) named "gauge-new.pl" in a Calc spreadsheet:
You do have complete control over where the file opens, it's just not terribly convenient.
AOO4/LO5 • Linux • Fedora 23