XL: Bypassing the Text Import Wizard When You Import Files

ID: Q110760

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

When you import text files into Microsoft Excel, the Text Import Wizard may automatically appear and display the first line as shown using the default parse line. You can bypass the Text Import Wizard and accept the defaults by holding down the SHIFT key when you open the file.

MORE INFORMATION

If the files you import into Microsoft Excel are always parsed correctly when you open them, you may not want to display the Text Import Wizard during the import process. To keep the Text Import Wizard dialog box from appearing when you import a file, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Open.

2. Locate and select the file you want from the list.

3. Hold down the SHIFT key and click Open or OK.

This technique is especially helpful when used with files such as tab- delimited text (.txt) files.

NOTE: The Text Import Wizard is not displayed when you open text files with a .CSV extension (comma-separated value files). Instead, the text file is parsed into separate columns using commas as delimiters. If you want the Text Import Wizard to be displayed for files with a .CSV extension, rename the text file so that its file name extension is ".txt" (without quotation marks).

REFERENCES

For more information about importing text files, click the Search button in Help and type:

    TextWizard

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 7.00a 8.00 97 XL97

Keywords          : kbdta kbconversion xlloadsave xlwiz 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97; MACINTOSH:5.0
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: January 7, 1999