This article is based on legacy software.
Importing data into an Excel worksheet is helpful if you want to use Excel to view, process and/or analyze data stored in another file. For example, many people store data as tab-delimited text files or comma-separated values (csv) files because they can be opened from practically any computer.
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Windows: From the Data command tab, in the Get External Data group, click From Text.
Macintosh: From the Data menu, select Get External Data » Import Text File...
The Import Text File/Choose a File dialog box appears.
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Windows: From the Files of type pull-down menu, select All Files.
Macintosh: From the Enable pull-down menu, select All Files. -
Navigate to and select the file to import.
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Windows: Click Import.
Macintosh: Click Get Data.
The Text Import Wizard appears.
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Select Delimited or Fixed Width.
NOTES:
The Text Import Wizard automatically selects the display type that it thinks best fits your data.
A delimiter is a character that separates pieces of data and was specified when the data was created. -
Click Next.
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If your data is delimited, change and/or confirm the delimiters and click Next.
NOTE: The Text Import Wizard automatically selects the delimiter that it thinks is being used (usually Tab). However, you can specify a different delimiter such as, Semicolon, Comma, or Space. -
Click Finish.
The Import Data dialog box appears.
- To place the data in a new worksheet, select New worksheet.
To place the data in the existing worksheet,- Select Existing worksheet.
- Click Collapse Dialog.
- Select the cell where the imported data will begin.
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Click Restore Dialog.
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Click OK.
The data appears in the designated location.