Excel Randoming Becoming More Efficient
 

Something really weird just happened... I run a website that I update
inventory on daily. To do that, I copy my suppliers inventory txt file
(semicolon delimited), paste it into my spreadsheet, and then use the
text to columns function to update everything. Well, today, when I
copied and pasted the txt file, it automatically converted it from text
to colulmns w/o me telling it to. Why??? Thats pretty cool because it
saved me time, but why did it do it and what if I don't want it to
automatically convert the data?


--
blakrapter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Excel Randoming Becoming More Efficient
 

Sounds like your supplier changed the extension of the file you were
importing to '.csv' [comma separated values]. When Excel sees this extension
(Example: MyFile.csv) it automatically tries to import it as it sees fit.
The good part is that it is automatic, the bad part is that because it's
automatic, you have no input into how you want the data to be parsed and
displayed. The only way to change this behavior is to change the extension
of the text file from .csv to something else such as '.prn', '.txt' or
whatever.
HTH,
--
Gary Brown

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Post Helpfull to you?''.


"blakrapter" wrote:


Something really weird just happened... I run a website that I update
inventory on daily. To do that, I copy my suppliers inventory txt file
(semicolon delimited), paste it into my spreadsheet, and then use the
text to columns function to update everything. Well, today, when I
copied and pasted the txt file, it automatically converted it from text
to colulmns w/o me telling it to. Why??? Thats pretty cool because it
saved me time, but why did it do it and what if I don't want it to
automatically convert the data?


--
blakrapter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
blakrapter's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=28926
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=511123

Excel Randoming Becoming More Efficient
 

Another possible explanation. I am taking this from, I believe, posts by
Dave Peterson on the subject. Apparently, once you do the Text to Columns,
Excel will remember your criteria, and then if you Paste something similar
into your spreadsheet, Excel will parse that data for you. IIRC, the
solution, if you don't want this to happen is to do another text to columns
and clear out all of the settings (and I believe save your worksheet.)

I apologize for any inaccuracies as I am doing this all from memory.
--
Kevin Vaughn


"blakrapter" wrote:


Something really weird just happened... I run a website that I update
inventory on daily. To do that, I copy my suppliers inventory txt file
(semicolon delimited), paste it into my spreadsheet, and then use the
text to columns function to update everything. Well, today, when I
copied and pasted the txt file, it automatically converted it from text
to colulmns w/o me telling it to. Why??? Thats pretty cool because it
saved me time, but why did it do it and what if I don't want it to
automatically convert the data?


--
blakrapter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
blakrapter's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=28926
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=511123

Excel Randoming Becoming More Efficient
 

I've never had to save the workbook--but data|text to columns|delimited (uncheck
all the options) does it nicely.



Kevin Vaughn wrote:

Another possible explanation. I am taking this from, I believe, posts by
Dave Peterson on the subject. Apparently, once you do the Text to Columns,
Excel will remember your criteria, and then if you Paste something similar
into your spreadsheet, Excel will parse that data for you. IIRC, the
solution, if you don't want this to happen is to do another text to columns
and clear out all of the settings (and I believe save your worksheet.)

I apologize for any inaccuracies as I am doing this all from memory.
--
Kevin Vaughn

"blakrapter" wrote:


Something really weird just happened... I run a website that I update
inventory on daily. To do that, I copy my suppliers inventory txt file
(semicolon delimited), paste it into my spreadsheet, and then use the
text to columns function to update everything. Well, today, when I
copied and pasted the txt file, it automatically converted it from text
to colulmns w/o me telling it to. Why??? Thats pretty cool because it
saved me time, but why did it do it and what if I don't want it to
automatically convert the data?


--
blakrapter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
blakrapter's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=28926
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=511123



--

Dave Peterson

Excel Randoming Becoming More Efficient
 

Ah, ok thanks. I must have mis-remembered :)
--
Kevin Vaughn


"Dave Peterson" wrote:

I've never had to save the workbook--but data|text to columns|delimited (uncheck
all the options) does it nicely.



Kevin Vaughn wrote:

Another possible explanation. I am taking this from, I believe, posts by
Dave Peterson on the subject. Apparently, once you do the Text to Columns,
Excel will remember your criteria, and then if you Paste something similar
into your spreadsheet, Excel will parse that data for you. IIRC, the
solution, if you don't want this to happen is to do another text to columns
and clear out all of the settings (and I believe save your worksheet.)

I apologize for any inaccuracies as I am doing this all from memory.
--
Kevin Vaughn

"blakrapter" wrote:


Something really weird just happened... I run a website that I update
inventory on daily. To do that, I copy my suppliers inventory txt file
(semicolon delimited), paste it into my spreadsheet, and then use the
text to columns function to update everything. Well, today, when I
copied and pasted the txt file, it automatically converted it from text
to colulmns w/o me telling it to. Why??? Thats pretty cool because it
saved me time, but why did it do it and what if I don't want it to
automatically convert the data?


--
blakrapter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
blakrapter's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=28926
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=511123



--

Dave Peterson

Excel Randoming Becoming More Efficient
 

Thanks for the info. The extension is correct. It is txt. How can I
import it and change the way it converts the text to columns? Every
time I paste from a txt document, it does it automatically, which
separates the data, thus, giving me nothing to convert.

Thanks


--
blakrapter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Excel Randoming Becoming More Efficient
 

If you're just copying and pasting, then you'll have to do one of those "dummy"
data|text to columns to make excel forget your previous data|text to columns.



blakrapter wrote:

Thanks for the info. The extension is correct. It is txt. How can I
import it and change the way it converts the text to columns? Every
time I paste from a txt document, it does it automatically, which
separates the data, thus, giving me nothing to convert.

Thanks

--
blakrapter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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--

Dave Peterson