Microsoft KB Archive/33143

{| = Excel: Importing Space-Delimited Files to Versions Before 2.20 =
 * width="100%"|

Last reviewed: October 31, 1994

Article ID: Q33143

SUMMARY
To import a text file into versions of Microsoft Excel earlier than version 2.20, the text file must have tabs separating the column entries and a return at the end of each line.

If the text file has two or more spaces between the column entries (which is common in text files that originate on mainframe computers), you must change those spaces into tabs by using one of the following methods:

  Use Microsoft Word or another word processor program and do the following: a. Open the file. b. Use a Change command (in Microsoft Word) or the equivalent command in another program to convert the spaces into tabs. (See below for more information on using Microsoft Word for     this conversion.)  Use a utility, for example, McSink, to convert the spaces into tabs. (See below for more information about acquiring McSink.)

Note that Microsoft Excel version 2.20 and later can specify if a text file should be read as comma or tab delimited and has a built-in space parsing command.

MORE INFORMATION
McSink is a shareware program that is available from many electronic bulletin-board services, from local user groups, or from local software dealers. To obtain a copy directly from the programmer, write to the following address:

Dave McWherter Signature Software 2151 Brown Ave.  Bensalem, PA  19020 To use Microsoft Word, follow these steps to change the spaces to tabs:
 * 1) Start Microsoft Word.
 * 2) Choose Open from the File menu and open the text file.
 * 3) Choose Change from the Search menu.
 * 4) In the Find What box, type the greatest number of spaces that appear together within the document.
 * 5) In the Change To box, type &quot;^t&quot; (without the quotation marks). The caret (^) is created by pressing SHIFT+6.
 * 6) Select the Change All option.
 * 7) When this procedure is complete, delete one space from the contents of the Find What box.
 * 8) Repeat steps 6 and 7 until the procedure is completed with a single space in the Find What box, then proceed to step 9.
 * 9) Select Save As from the File menu.
 * 10) In the File Save As dialog box, click the File Format button.
 * 11) Select the Text Only option and save the document.

This procedure replaces each space with a tab. You can now start up Microsoft Excel and open the new text document.
 * }