Living in data management and analysis, one constantly comes across CSV files. Although the CSV, the Comma Separated Values format, is versatile in many ways, it can never offer those features or advanced capabilities provided by Excel in XLSX format. Excel can handle sophisticated data, apply formulas across the sheet, and manage multiple sheets- several works that could be handled easily. Having questioned how to turn a CSV into Excel, you came to the right place. In this article, I will guide you through various ways of quickly converting your CSV files to Excel format using tools such as Microsoft Excel, WPS Office, and Google Sheets.
What Is a CSV File?
For Comma comma-separated values, a CSV is the most common data file format used to store and manage tabular data. It is primarily a text file containing a relatively simple text format of rows comprising data. Each record makes up a row, while every field inside the record becomes separated by commas, which may get replaced occasionally with semicolons or even tabs. Its simplicity made CSV readable with the most extensive range of applications, from spreadsheet programs and databases to several other data analytics applications.
Key Features of CSV Files:
Format: It is a text file format that possesses the record in rows and columns.
Comma Separated: The various data fields within a record are separated by a comma. However, any other symbols can be used.
No Format: Unlike Excel, the CSV file doesn't have fonts, color, or any advanced styling; it contains only the data.
Highly compatible: CSV files can be opened and accessed by many different applications, such as spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
Why Convert CSV to Excel?
Before exploring how to convert CSV to Excel, let's find out why you might need to convert CSV to Excel. Here are some of the main reasons for conversion:
Advanced data management: Excel allows the user to manage and organize data better with advanced facilities for complex formulas, charts, and formatting.
Multiple sheet support: A CSV supports only one sheet, but in Excel, various sheets are supported; hence, large datasets are easier to manage.
Format Options: Excel offers several formatting options that keep your data visible and catchy, such as cell color, fonts, and text wrapping.
Analytic Tool: Within an Excel file, you can see options for pivoting a table, conditional formatting, and data validation, along with a couple of more advanced features.
Now that we understand why using Excel files is advantageous let's see how easily you can convert CSV to Excel.
How to Convert CSV to Excel Using Microsoft Excel
Converting a CSV into Excel is relatively easy if you install Microsoft Excel. Here's how you can do this:
Step 1: Open the CSV File in Excel
First, you will want to open the CSV file in Excel. You can do this by double-clicking on the CSV file if Excel is your default program for those types of files. Otherwise:
1. Open Microsoft Excel.
2. Click on File > Open.
3. Navigate to where your CSV file is located and select it.
By default, Excel will parse the CSV data into rows and columns.
Step 2: Save As Excel Format
Once the CSV is opened in Excel:
1. Click on the File Tab located at the top left corner.
2. Click on Save As
3. Choose where to save your new File
4. In the "Save as type" select drop-down, click on Excel Workbook (*.xlsx)
5. Click on Save
How It's Done
Step 3: Ta-da!
There you go! Your CSV is now an Excel file! Now you can begin working with options within Excel for more sheets, format adjustments, and further processing of data.
Common Issues When Converting CSV to Excel
Generally speaking, converting CSV to Excel is a pretty straightforward job. However, as mentioned below, you can only encounter some common problems while converting CSV to Excel.
1. Data Formatting Issue
Advanced formatting supported in Excel is not possible in CSV files. There are minor formatting losses regarding text alignment, font styles, and colors in the conversion process from CSV to Excel. Still, Excel allows you to apply any formatting you want.
2. Incorrect Data Display
What's annoying is that when opening a CSV in Excel, data gets all messed up; for instance, numbers show all over, and the text ends halfway. This happens since CSVs use some delimitators other than commas, such as semicolons. While opening such a character, a correct delimiter must be selected when opening an Excel file.
3. Special Characters
Suppose your CSV file contains special characters (such as accents or non-English characters). In that case, there may be issues with how those characters appear after conversion. To avoid this, use the correct encoding (usually UTF-8) during the save or upload process.
WPS Office: A Great Alternative for Converting CSV to Excel
WPS Office is an excellent free alternative to Microsoft Excel-light. It is full of features and allows one to open, edit, and convert files without hassle. In WPS Office, you will work with Excel files and CSV and save data in XLSX format, among other things, thus making it ideal for everyday use.
Why Choose WPS Office?
Free to use: WPS Office is free to download and use. Unlike many software solutions, it does not cost a penny but never compromises on any feature.
Excel Compatibility: Full Excel compatibility from WPS Office means you can manipulate your data as you would on Microsoft Excel.
Cross-platform: WPS Office is available for a multitude of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Mobile. You can use it at any time and anywhere.
User-Friendly Interface: WPS Office comes with an interactive interface that helps users convert CSV to Excel and perform many other data-related tasks.
How to Convert CSV to Excel Using WPS Office
If you can't access Microsoft Excel, using WPS Office makes it easy to convert CSV to Excel. It is free, light, and an office suite compatible with all Microsoft Excel file formats. Here is how you can use WPS Office in converting CSV into Excel:
Step 1: Open the CSV File in the WPS Office
First of all, you need to open the CSV file in the WPS Office:
1. Open WPS Office.
2. Access the WPS Spreadsheet from the start menu.
3. Open your target CSV file to convert from within the WPS Spreadsheet by selecting File> Open.
4. By default, WPS Office will load your CSV data in a new sheet.
Step 2: Save As Excel Format
Once your CSV file opens in WPS Spreadsheet:
1. Click the File option from the top-left corner.
2. From this menu, choose Save As.
3. In the "Save as type," select Excel Workbook (*.xlsx).
4. Choose your destination and click OK.
Step 3: Mission Accomplished!
Your CSV file has just been converted to Excel, where all the functions available from the WPS Office for data manipulation or management are available.
FAQs
1. How would you change many CSV format files into Excel format in bulk?
Unless for a few online converters or batch-processing software, other tools can process only one File at a time. Example: Using Excel or WPS Office, you can open a few CSVs and manually save each into Excel.
2. Is the data format the same as that of source CSV?
CSV files cannot support complex formatting, meaning all formatting concerning colors of cells, fonts, or borders will be lost after conversion. You can then apply new formatting once the File is in Excel format.
3. How do I convert a CSV file with a different delimiter?
State the correct delimiter when you open your CSV in Excel/WPS Office with a different delimiter than a coma-like semicolon/tab. Excel and WPS Office both have the option to select the delimiter when importing an a.csv file.
Summary
In the above article, we told you all about CSV. In this simple format, data is in rows and columns, separated by commas. CSV files are also straightforward to send around, though they do not have many options behind them compared to Excel. These include WPS Office and several others; thus, converting your .csv file to an Excel file will be much easier with AI tools' power.
