Forum Discussion
Formatting CSV numeric values
Bennadeau The end user has to format the column the way you suggested, formatting the cell with a "Custom" format, and replacing the "General" with twelve zeroes. This works, however, as an IT department furnishing the Excelsheet, we want to circumvent the user from formatting the column.
The thing is that what you are talking about isn't a CSV formatting issue, it is an excel display issue. Excel automatically makes those numbers into sci format. There is nothing you can change in excel to change that when you send a file. It is all about the User and they would have to change the format.
If you want to control the format and lock the workbook you would have to turn the CSV into an excel file and do all the number formatting and then lock the sheet so the end user doesn't have to do it.
Keep in mind all a csv file is, is a text file that excel recognizes commas as a way to make a column.
Flikkery
Maverick494 I figured. It's not the CSV data but Excel that is doing the conversion. We send an HTML formatted Excel Sheet with all the fields formatted the way they want it. However, since they want a CSV, I have stated that there is no way to prevent Excel from doing the SCI formatting...
Not sure if this will work for you but either you pre-pend the number with a single quote when you create the CSV which will format the cell as text or open that CSV using Notepad/Wordpad.
I get that this may not be the solution you're looking for but I hope it may lead you in the direction of your solution.
Bennadeau Yes, by making the numeric value as an alphanumeric value with the addition of any none numeric value, like a single quote, within the value impedes Excel from the SCI formatting. This doesn't circumvent the need for the user to manipulate the data, since they will need to REPLACE the quote with nulls.
