Solved Excel too smart for me

[Pat Hartman]

Apparently, Excel has changed the way that it imports .csv files when you use the Data tab to import the file. It INSISTS on importing it as a table. I don't want it to be a table. I can't find any way to take data that is a table and make it not a table. The obvious copy and paste to a new sheet doesn't work. it only removes the coloration.

Also, Excel no longer recognizes .csv files that are tab-delimited. So if you double click on the file, all the columns get loaded into column 1. At least I was able to get by this issue and get the data loaded.

So, to repeat the question - How can I make a table - not a table?

 

[Gasman]

I seem to recall you have to walk through the steps on import and then you can specify tab delimited and save as a Spec should you require that?

 

[Gasman]

Oh, sorry, I did not notice the forum.
I just look at new posts and did not realise it was not an Access question.

 

[Gasman]

I just tried with Excel 2019 on a csv I had from Quicken and get

and from a file I actually create to import to Quicken

 

[GaP42]

Yes - Excel automatically imports a csv, where you specify the delimiter, to a table (with colouration and header filters)
To remove the "table" designation - highlight the table and right-click --- the menu shows "table" option - try "Convert to Range" option.
Is that what you wnat?

 

[Isaac]

Apparently, Excel has changed the way that it imports .csv files when you use the Data tab to import the file. It INSISTS on importing it as a table. I don't want it to be a table. I can't find any way to take data that is a table and make it not a table. The obvious copy and paste to a new sheet doesn't work. it only removes the coloration.

Also, Excel no longer recognizes .csv files that are tab-delimited. So if you double click on the file, all the columns get loaded into column 1. At least I was able to get by this issue and get the data loaded.

So, to repeat the question - How can I make a table - not a table?

I'm the same way, Excel tables have a few cool features but if I was to generalize it across all my Excel usage I almost NEVER want to actually use a table. Microsoft seems to default to it in a way that acts like we should all always be using tables for our data which is really silly

 

[Edgar_]

I personally prefer:
Data tab > Get External Data group > From Text button

 

[Gasman]

Yes, that is what I used for my pictures, but if you just double click a csv file, it does not look at the separation character and assumes it is comma.
Somewhat logical I suppose when csv is meant to be comma separated values, is it not?

 

[raziel3]

@Pat Hartman you want the imported data in one column or one cell? The method suggested by @Edgar_ will give you more flexibility on how the data is imported.

 

[isladogs]

If you don't want a table, just open the CSV file in Excel rather than importing it.

 

[Pat Hartman]

The convert to range did it. It was buried in a sub-sub menu so I didn't see it earlier. Thanks.


I am helping my ex-husband who is using a very old CRM named Maximizer. It is circa 1998 and the last Windows update broke his dual boot and now he can't run the app. So he has it on an old laptop also and the data is close to current. I'm trying to export the data so I can import it into a new Access application. The exports are a nightmare. I finally got some success when I found the option to change the delimiter to tab. It still doesn't produce a usable file for notes but since there are only a few thousand rows, I can manually insert additional tabs in front of the data to make the column that needs to hold the FK to the contact the note relates to the contact. Then propagate the PK by dragging it ow writing a macro.

 

[Pat Hartman]

I personally prefer:
Data tab > Get External Data group > From Text button

That is what now makes a table.