A Beginner's Guide to Comma-Separated Values Files

What is a CSV File?

Do you want to save and upload multiple files and data for the broadcasting of messages? Do you worry often to organize a large amount of data? Then the CSV option works.

If you wish to save data in a tabular format then CSV comma-separated value files are the answer. CSV files are stored with .CSV extension. It may appear like a garden variety spreadsheet.

A CSV is a comma-separated values file, where data stored in a tabular format. It is a plain text file that consists of a list of data. CSV files help the exchange of data between different applications. E.g fetching data from a database supports CSV files.

CSVs look like a garden-variety spreadsheet but with a .csv extension. Microsoft Excel, Google spreadsheets, and spreadsheet programs support CSV files. Other spreadsheets differ as you can only save a single sheet as compared to each cell, row, or column. Saving mathematical and scientific formulas are easier in CSV format files.

CSV helps in various business processes and objectives. This helps an organization to export a large volume of data to the database. CSV files also known as Character Separated Values or comma Delimited Files. Use of Comma delimit data and other characters like semicolons accepted too. The export of complex data from one application to a CSV file and import from CSV files back is the core working idea. CSV files are plain text. They are easier to import into a spreadsheet or another storage database. This is the reason it is very popular and used by many organization IT departments.

They help to serve business functions like:

  • East to use plain text files for web developers
  • Easy to import plain texts to a spreadsheet or storage devices, software independent
  • Easy to organize large data
  • Easy to open and edit even in notepad, MS Excel, etc
  • Easy to generate and software independent
  • Easy one-time tagging of rows and columns as compared to excel and other spreadsheets. Start tag and end tag is not necessary
  • Easy import of CSV files and consumes less memory
  • Easy programmable as it is a simple plain text file
What are the tools needed to implement the CLM strategy?

How Does Closed-Loop Marketing Work?

In CSV list of data separated by commas makes it a simple structured file format. If you have stored contact details of a customer in the database stored as CSV file then the file format appears:

Name, Phone Number, Email, Address
Steve, 1123-4560-5674, [email protected], 123 Oxford Street

CSV can be a simple text or contain complex and many lines with different entries. It could be long to strings of text or contain thousands of lines. A CSV file may or may not have a top header and may use quotation marks around each bit of data. The structure design of the CSV file is simple and easy. So it is used for easy exported and between applications. This results in easily legible data, viewed with a spreadsheet or notepad.

How to View a CSV File in a Text Editor

File Explorer or Windows Explorer helps to view CSV files in a text editor like notepad. Right-click on File Explorer or Windows Explorer and select the 'Edit' command.

If the file is huge then sometimes it is difficult to open large files. In that case, use notepad to view CSV files. After the installation, right-click on the CSV file and select the 'Edit with notepad' command. This option helps to view the CSV file.

When exported CSV file is from the contacts program, contact details are sorted in new lines. if the location is of password manager then website entries display in each line.

The Word Wrap feature of notepad makes it difficult to read data. Disable the Word Wrap feature before importing or exporting for better legibility. Click Format> Word Wrap. A horizontal scroll helps to read the full line entry.

How to Open a CSV File in a Spreadsheet Program

Spreadsheets also help to Edit and Open CSV files for an easy read. To open a CSV file in Microsoft Excel, double click on a CSV file to open in Excel as default. If this option doesn't work then right-click on the CSV file and select the command 'Open With> Excel.

You can also upload a file to Google Sheets to view the CSV file. Excel and spreadsheets display the content of CSV file arranging into various columns.

How do I Save CSV Files?

It is easy to save the CSV file if there is a defined File type. Below the 'Filename' section in the 'Save As' tab, select the 'Save as type' and modify it as CSV(*CSV). This option helps to store the data in an organized structure.

Utilizing The Tools at Our Disposal for Success

How do CSV Files Help eCommerce Businesses?

Every business objective is to serve customers and groups for their business success. Online business presence amounts to a part of revenue generation for all businesses. CSV files are easy to organize, online business owners can modify data for business use. Importing and exporting information such as order data, customer data is crucial. CSV file format allows easy functions of these activities for all businesses.

If a business house buys customer data using social media, then customer data is sent in CSV format. The online network shares customer data quickly and easily using the CSV file exchange. CSV files are easy to convert into other file formats and this gives an edge to business owners. CSV files are not hierarchical or object-oriented makes it a common file format. This makes it an easy factor to import, export, and convert files for any business usage.