Importing ASCII delimited files into a spreadsheet: How do I do it?

These instructions will guide you on how to import your ASCII delimited file into a Lotus 1-2-3 Release 5 (for Windows) worksheet as well as a MS Excel (for Windows 95) spreadsheet. We realize there are other spreadsheet applications and other platforms, but these instructions should guide you enough to cover most bases. We assume you have some experience in negotiating through Windows95 (or Windows 3.1 or the MacOS or ...) and have experience in finding specific files from within an application. If not, consult any of the numerous references available ( books, web sites, that person in the corner who seems to know how to make their computer jump through hoops ).

Lotus 1-2-3 Rel. 5 (for Windows):

Option 1:

• Start 1-2-3
• Select FILE : OPEN
• Change the FILE TYPE to TEXT
• Select the file you saved to your hard drive by clicking on the file name once.
• Select Text Options... from the right hand side of the dialog box.
• Under Separator, select Comma or Space (which ever is appropriate).
• Under Character Set, select Windows.
• Click OK. This takes you back to the OPEN dialog box.
• Click OK.
• 1-2-3 will then import your file and separate the data into appropriate columns.

Sometimes a file has more than one separator. Part of the file may separate the columns with commas and another part may separate with spaces. In this case, the best way to import the file is the same way you'd do it in the DOS version of 1-2-3.

Option 2:

• Start 1-2-3
• Hit "/" (slash)
• Hit "F" (File)
• Hit "I" (Import)
• Hit "N" (Number)
• Type in the full name of the file including the path. If the file is ALPHA.TXT and is saved in the ONE subdirectory of your C drive, type c:\one\alpha.txt.
• Hit ENTER
• 1-2-3 will then import your file and separate the data into appropriate columns.


MS Excel 97 and higher

• Start Excel
• Select FILE : OPEN
• Under FILES OF TYPE, select TEXT FILES
• Select the file you saved to your hard drive.
• Hit OPEN
• This takes you to the IMPORT WIZARD. Select ORIGINAL DATA TYPE : DELIMITED.
• Select FILE ORIGIN: WINDOWS (ANSI)
• Hit NEXT>
• Select all of the delimiters that apply. If your file has more than one delimiter, make sure all are selected. For instance, if your file uses spaces and commas as delimiters, make sure SPACE and COMMA are selected.
• Hit NEXT>
• Identify the type of data in each column. If a column has text in it, identify it as TEXT. If a column has values, select GENERAL. If a column has numbers you are using as identifiers (like 10-digit HTS numbers), select TEXT.
• Select FINISH.
• Excel will then import your file and separate the data into appropriate columns.

DB FAQ #0006