Error in .csv file after opend in Excel

[Kenneth26]

Hello
I have combined my contacts in Outlook from 2 different accounts.
Exported the result to a .CSV file.
Opened this file in Excel and "cleaned" the contacts, and saved the file again. (still .csv file)
When I try to import again to Outlook I receive all contacts, but they are empty.
If I just import the exported file without opening it in Excel, it works OK.
So, something happens in Excel. What?

Kenneth

[#2]

@Kenneth26 

When working with CSV files in Excel, there can be issues with the formatting and encoding of the data. Here are a few things you can try to resolve the problem of empty contacts after opening the CSV file in Excel:

1. Check the delimiter: CSV files use a delimiter to separate the values in each field. Make sure the delimiter used in your CSV file is compatible with Excel. Common delimiters include comma (,), semicolon (;), or tab (\t). If the delimiter used in your CSV file is not recognized correctly by Excel, it can lead to empty fields.
2. Preserve data format: When opening a CSV file in Excel, it may automatically format certain columns as dates or numbers. This can cause data loss if your contact information includes leading zeros, special characters, or formatted text. To preserve the data format, you can try opening the CSV file in Excel by following these steps: a. Open Excel. b. Go to "File" > "Open" and browse to select the CSV file. c. In the "Text Import Wizard" dialog, select "Delimited" and click "Next." d. Choose the appropriate delimiter used in your CSV file and click "Next." e. In the "Column data format" section, select "Text" for the columns containing contact information. f. Click "Finish" to import the data into Excel while preserving the original formatting.
3. Save the file correctly: After making changes to the contacts in Excel, ensure that you save the file properly to maintain the CSV format. When saving the file, select the "CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)" format from the "Save as type" dropdown menu.
4. Test with a sample contact: Before importing the entire CSV file into Outlook, try exporting and importing a single contact to see if the issue persists. This can help identify if the problem is specific to certain contacts or if it is a general issue with the CSV file.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, it is possible that there may be compatibility or encoding issues between Outlook and Excel. The text and steps were created with the help of AI.

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.