Forum Discussion
Creating connections to import CSV files into excel 365
Hi,
I'm upgrading from a much older version of excel (2013) and realize I had to delete all my old import connections because the new version kept telling me they were blank.
Starting from scratch, I'm trying to import csv data extracted from web pages into my worksheets into existing sheets. I've only been able to manually import one sheet at a time and each time, it creates a new sheet instead of flowing into the one I intend it too.
When I try to create or edit the connections, the "properties" button is greyed out. In the older version, I was just able to tell excel where to get the information from and where to put it. Why is this so much more difficult? Microsoft support already had me edit a lot of stuff in the Trust Center to enable and allow everything. Seems no help at all.
Matt
Thank you for the detailed response. I was on the right track with the query's, but I'm getting "Query results cannot overlap a table or XML mapping. Please select another destination."
This is whether I select just the first cell or the entire table to dump the information in. Is importing into and updating tables with new information a problem now?
Thank you for the very detailed response Nikolino. The first step was actually what I was doing, but I keep getting the error "Query results cannot overlap a table or XML mapping. Please select another destination."
Do I have to break all the tables my data had been importing into?
Also, was there supposed to be a #3?
Microsoft has changed the way importing and connecting CSV files works in newer versions of Excel. Instead of the older "Connections" method, Excel 365 now heavily relies on Power Query (Get & Transform Data), which can be more powerful but also more confusing.
How to Import CSV Files into an Existing Worksheet in Excel 365
To import CSV data into an existing sheet instead of creating a new one, follow these steps:
1. Use Power Query to Import CSV Data to a Specific Sheet
- Open your Excel workbook and select the existing sheet where you want to import the data.
- Click on Data → Get Data → From File → From Text/CSV.
- Browse and select your CSV file. Click Import.
- A preview window will appear. Click Load To (not just "Load").
- In the next window, choose "Existing worksheet" and select the specific cell where you want the data to go.
- Click OK, and Excel will import the data into the existing sheet.
2. If Power Query Keeps Creating a New Sheet Instead
If Power Query keeps sending the data to a new sheet, do this:
- After importing, go to Queries & Connections (on the Data tab).
- Right-click your query and choose Load To...
- Select "Existing worksheet" and point to where you want the data.
4. Why is the "Properties" Button Greyed Out?
The "Properties" button for connections is usually greyed out because:
- The connection is a Power Query connection (not a traditional legacy connection).
- Excel 365 now stores queries in the Power Query Editor, so you'll need to manage them there.
To edit properties:
- Go to Data → Queries & Connections
- Right-click the query → Select Edit.
- This will open Power Query, where you can modify the source, refresh settings, etc.
5. Automating Multiple CSV Imports
If you need to import multiple CSVs at once into different locations in the same sheet, you might need VBA or a Power Query folder import method.
All comments possibilities and steps are take it from the AI.
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Hope this will help you.
