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I have a csv file which looks like this :

Ref;Code;OtherData;
"MyRef";"-arm";"something";

I think this form is valid, isn't ?

When I open the file in Excel, the "-arm" is parsed by Excel as a formula. How can I force Excel to read the value as plain text ?

If required, I can change the CSV format.

PS: don't ask me to add a leading '. I don't want to adapt the value for a specific app, as other apps must still be able to read the value.

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3 Answers 3

Reset to default
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What you need to do is import the csv into excel as "text" so go to data - get external data - from text (2010) and select the csv file. The import wizard will allow you to select columns and treat them with specific formats, any column with a dash or plus can be treated as text and it will not be parsed into a formula.

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Additionally, if the data is already in excel and you don't want any formula, do a ctrl+H to find and replace all = with nothing

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    thanks for the tip. I was hoping a solution that can allow double clicking on the csv file with no user intervention. It's still an acceptable solution anyway
    – Steve B
    Commented Feb 23, 2012 at 12:26
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You could just use a Find/Replace command on the source replacing - with a space.

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    This will break the csv file
    – Steve B
    Commented Feb 24, 2012 at 9:54
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    Then the datum will be " arm" instead of "-arm", which is wrong.
    – Old Pro
    Commented Nov 20, 2014 at 21:38
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I know this is an old post, but I think what Steve is looking for could be achieved by surrounding the text with double quotes (as he has already done) and then save the csv file in UTF-8 format.

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  • That will not solve the problem.
    – Old Pro
    Commented Nov 20, 2014 at 21:37

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