Problem with .cvs and .txt

[kevs1]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

When I use received .cvs and .txt files I loathe them and convert quickly to .xls. Why? Because when I work on those files and do a simple save, Excel ask me if I want to replace the file. I don't understand that. And then Excel ask, after I try to close, a few more questions. With .xls I'm left alone.
Can someone explain it all to me? thanks!

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

When I use received .cvs and .txt files I loathe them and convert quickly to
.xls. Why? Because when I work on those files and do a simple save, Excel ask
me if I want to replace the file. I don't understand that. And then Excel ask,
after I try to close, a few more questions. With .xls I'm left alone.
Can someone explain it all to me? thanks!

I'll try. Whenever you are working in Excel, the data is in Excel's internal
format. This is true, no matter what the original file format is (was). But,
Excel remembers the original file's format. So when you save a file, it will
attempt to overwrite the original file. If you choose Excel workbook as the
output format, which you are doing, the extension (file name) will change,
and you should no longer get the overwrite message.

It appears as though you may not be doing a save-as to change the file
format, and therefore get the overwrite message.

 

[kevs1]

Bob you lost me.
Let's not talk about excel files (.xls)
They are fine. They give me no problems.

Let's talk about .cvs and .txt files.

When I open one of those and change one letter, and then try to save, I get an annoying dialogue box.
I am then 'FORCED" to replace the file I just opened.
And then to top it off, when I close the file another annoying dialogue box comes up reminding me of something that is over my head.

This is why I avoid these two formats at all cost.

Unfortunately, some companies love to dowload to me these files.

Am only I having to see this stuff? what is this?

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Bob you lost me.
Let's not talk about excel files (.xls)
They are fine. They give me no problems.

Let's talk about .cvs and .txt files.

OK, my comments are below. By the way, in your subject line, CVS is where
you get prescriptions filled. CSV stands for Comma Separated Variables which
is what you really mean.

When I open one of those and change one letter, and then try to save, I get an
annoying dialogue box.

How did you open the file? Did you get any other annoying dialogs when you
opened the file? If so, what were they and how did you respond? How are you
trying to save? File-Save? Save icon? What does the annoying dialog say?

I am then 'FORCED" to replace the file I just opened.
And then to top it off, when I close the file another annoying dialogue box
comes up reminding me of something that is over my head.

What does this annoying dialog say?

This is why I avoid these two formats at all cost.

There is no reason whatsoever to avoid using text files. Excel handles them
just fine.

Unfortunately, some companies love to dowload to me these files.

They do this because it is the most basic universally compatible format,
understandable by just about any program.

Am only I having to see this stuff? what is this?

Apparently. You are probably not the only on seeing this stuff, but you seem
to be having the most trouble understanding what is happening. What is what?

 

[kevs1]

Ok, Bob, when you save to .txt or .csv
is says... may contain features that are not compatible.

I click yes.

Then the orginial excel file seems to disappear, so I left with the .txt open.

I close it, and it ask if I want to save changes I made, even though I've made no changes.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Ok, Bob, when you save to .txt or .csv
is says... may contain features that are not compatible.

Remember that Excel always keeps the file in an internal "Excel Format." So
when you save it as text, Excel is warning that you MAY (but not
necessarily) have done stuff, like format a cell that can't be transferred
to you chosen file type. This is simply a warning coming from Excel to alert
you that the output result may be be exactly as you have intended.

I click yes.

Fine. This is what you should do, to write the text file.

Then the orginial excel file seems to disappear, so I left with the .txt open.

Disappear from where? If you mean in memory, or in the Excel window, yes,
because you just told it to.

I close it, and it ask if I want to save changes I made, even though I've made
no changes.

Correct again. You have a text file open, but it is really in Excel's
internal format. Excel is just making sure that you want to keep this as
text and to throw away any changes you might have made regarding formatting,
adding another sheet tab, etc.

Even if you did not change anything, remember that Excel has opened a text
file and converted it to its internal format. That, in itself is a change,
that Excel wants to make sure is either preserved - because this is usually
the case, or ignored.

 

[kevs1]

Thanks Bob. I'll file that away!