Contents

# Text Import

Sets the import options for delimited data.

To access this command...

Choose File - Open - File type, select Text CSV.

Choose Data - Text to Columns (Calc).

Copy data to clipboard, then choose Edit - Paste Special - Paste Special (Calc).

## Import

### Character Set

Specifies the character set to be used in the imported file.

### Language

Determines how the number strings are imported.

If Language is set to Default (for CSV import) or Automatic (for HTML import), Calc will use the globally set language. If Language is set to a specific language, that language will be used when importing numbers.

When importing an HTML document, the Language selection can conflict with the global HTML option Use 'English (USA)' locale for numbers. The global HTML option is effective only when the Automatic language option is selected. If you select a specific language in the HTML Import Options dialogue box, the global HTML option is ignored.

### From Row

Specifies the row where you want to start the import. The rows are visible in the preview window at the bottom of the dialogue box.

## Separator Options

Specifies whether your data uses separators or fixed widths as delimiters.

### Fixed width

Separates fixed-width data (equal number of characters) into columns. Click on the ruler in the preview window to set the width.

### Separated by

Select the separator used in your data.

### Tab

Separates data delimited by tabs into columns.

### Semicolon

Separates data delimited by semicolons into columns.

### Comma

Separates data delimited by commas into columns.

### Space

Separates data delimited by spaces into columns.

### Other

Separates data into columns using the custom separator that you specify. Note: The custom separator must also be contained in your data.

### Merge delimiters

Combines consecutive delimiters and removes blank data fields.

### Trim spaces

Removes starting and trailing spaces from data fields.

### String delimiter

Select a character to delimit text data. You can also enter a character in the text box.

## Other options

Sets some other import options.

### Format quoted field as text

When this option is enabled, fields or cells whose values are quoted in their entirety (the first and last characters of the value equal the text delimiter) are imported as text.

### Detect special numbers

When this option is enabled, Calc will automatically detect all number formats, including special number formats such as dates and time. Scientific notation will also be detected as Detect scientific notation option must be enabled at the same time.

The selected language influences how such special numbers are detected, since different languages and regions may have different conventions for such special numbers.

When this option is disabled, Calc will detect and convert only numbers in decimal notation. Detection of numbers in scientific notation will depend on Detect scientific notation option. The rest will be imported as text. A decimal number string can have digits 0-9, thousands separators, and a decimal separator. Thousands separators and decimal separators may vary with the selected language and region.

### Detect scientific notation

When this option is enabled, Calc will automatically detect numbers with scientific notation, like 5E2 for 500.

The selected language influences how scientific notation is detected, since different languages and regions may have different decimal separator.

This option can be disabled only if Detect special numbers option is previously disabled.

When this option is disabled, Calc will detect and convert only numbers in decimal notation. The rest will be imported as text. A decimal number string can have digits 0-9, thousands separators, and a decimal separator. Thousands separators and decimal separators may vary with the selected language and region.

### Skip empty cells

Available when using Paste Special: when this option is enabled, Calc preserves previous content of cells when pasting empty ones. Otherwise, Calc deletes content of previous cells.

In Text to Columns conversion, if cell content begins with a separator and this option is disabled, then first column will be emptied.

### Evaluate formulae

Determines whether formula expressions starting with a = equal sign character are to be evaluated as formulae or imported as textual data. If checked evaluate formulae on input. Otherwise formulae are input as text.

## Fields

Shows how your data will look when it is separated into columns.

### Column type

Choose a column in the preview window and select the data type to be applied the imported data. You can select one of the following options:

Type | Function
--- | ---
Standard | LibreOffice determines the type.
Text | The imported data is treated as text.
Date (DMY) | The imported data is assumed as Day, Month and Year (in this order).
Date (MDY) | The imported data is assumed as Month, Day and Year (in this order).
Date (YMD) | The imported data is assumed as Year, Month and Day (in this order).
US English | The imported numbers are interpreted using the US English locale, irrespective of the locale selected in the Locale combo box above.
Hide | The data in the column is not imported.

If you selected one of the date formats (DMY), (MDY), or (YMD) and you enter numbers without date delimiters, the numbers are interpreted as follows:

Number of characters | Date format
--- | ---
6 | Two characters each are taken for day, month, and year in the selected order.
8 | Four characters are taken for the year, two each for month and day, in the selected order.
5 or 7 | As with 6 or 8 characters, but the first part of the sequence has one character fewer. This will suppress a leading zero for month and day.

If you want to include the leading zero in the data you import, in telephone numbers for example, apply the "Text" format to the column.

### Preview

Shows how the imported text will look after it is separated into columns. To apply a format to a column when it is imported, click a column and select a Column type. When you select a Column type, the column heading displays the applied format.

If you want to use a fixed width to separate the imported data into columns, click in the ruler to set the width boundaries.

Related Topics

Navigating Without the Mouse

Information about Import and Export Filters.

Opening and Saving Text CSV Files

Importing and Exporting CSV Text Files with Formulae

CSV Filter Options