Open CSV file: This is how it works

If you want to open a CSV file, you should use a spreadsheet program. However, you can also use any text program

Open CSV file: You have these options

CSV files are generally used to save table data in text form. They use a fairly simple data format: table columns are usually separated by commas (or semicolons or tabs), which also explains the file name: CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values, i.e. “values separated by commas”.

• In order to display and edit CSV files in the best possible way, you should open them with a spreadsheet program. A well-known program is Microsoft Excel. However, you can also use the free LibreOffice Calc or open the CSV file in Google Sheets directly in the browser. Mac users can use Numbers.

• You open the CSV file using the open function of your spreadsheet program. If you have assigned the CSV file extension to the program, simply double-click on the file. As a rule, the structure of the CSV file is automatically displayed correctly.
• However, it can sometimes happen that the spreadsheet program has problems interpreting the structure of the file clearly. In this case, a text conversion wizard is displayed in which you can check the required information and adjust it if necessary.

• Due to their simple structure, CSV files can also be opened with a text editor such as the Windows Editor/, Notepad++ or TextEdit (Mac). You can even edit and save the file. Please note, however, that such programs display the CSV file in raw form. In particular, files with a lot of table data can quickly become confusing.