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Import a Simpplr CSV file in Microsoft Excel

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Overview

When you export data from Simpplr, the CSV file uses UTF-8 character encoding. If you open this file directly in Microsoft Excel by double-clicking it, Excel may not detect the encoding automatically. This can cause special characters such as accented letters, symbols, or non-English text to appear garbled or incorrect.

To avoid this, use the Text Import Wizard in Excel to open the file and manually set the encoding to UTF-8.

Before you begin

  • Make sure your Simpplr CSV export is saved to a known location on your system.

  • These steps apply to Microsoft Excel on Windows. If you are using Excel for Mac, see the Excel for Mac section below.

Steps for Windows

  1. Open Microsoft Excel.

  2. Click the Data tab in the menu bar.

  3. Click From Text.

  4. Browse to the location where your Simpplr CSV file is saved. Select the file and click Import.

    The Text Import Wizard -- Step 1 of 3 window opens.

  5. Under Original data type, select Delimited.

  6. From the File origin dropdown, select 65001: Unicode (UTF-8).

  7. Click Next.

    The Text Import Wizard -- Step 2 of 3 window opens.

  8. Under Delimiters, select Comma.

    The Data preview section shows how your data will appear. Verify that the columns look correct before continuing.

  9. Click Next.

    The Text Import Wizard -- Step 3 of 3 window opens.

  10. Select the appropriate data format for each column. To skip a column, select Do not import column (Skip).

  11. Click Finish.

  12. When prompted, choose whether to place the data in the existing sheet or a new sheet, then click OK.

Your Simpplr data now opens in Excel with all characters displaying correctly.

Steps for Excel 2019, Excel 2021, and Microsoft 365 (Windows)

The From Text option is not available in newer versions of Excel. Use the updated import flow instead.

  1. Open Microsoft Excel.

  2. Click the Data tab in the menu bar.

  3. Go to Get Data > From File > From Text/CSV.

  4. Browse to the location where your Simpplr CSV file is saved. Select the file and click Import.

  5. In the preview window, click the File Origin dropdown and select 65001: Unicode (UTF-8).

  6. Set the Delimiter dropdown to Comma.

  7. Review the data preview to confirm the columns look correct.

  8. Click Load.

Your Simpplr data is now imported into Excel with UTF-8 encoding preserved.

Steps for Mac

Excel for Mac does not include the Text Import Wizard. Use the steps below to open your Simpplr CSV file with the correct encoding.

Excel for Mac 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365

  1. Open Microsoft Excel.

  2. Click the Data tab in the menu bar.

  3. Go to Get Data > From File > From Text/CSV.

  4. Browse to the location where your Simpplr CSV file is saved. Select the file and click Import.

  5. In the preview window, click the File Origin dropdown and select 65001: Unicode (UTF-8).

  6. Set the Delimiter dropdown to Comma.

  7. Review the data preview to confirm the columns look correct.

  8. Click Load.

Excel for Mac 2016 and earlier

The Get Data option is not available in Excel for Mac 2016 and earlier. Use Google Sheets instead to open your Simpplr CSV file without character errors.

  1. Go to sheets.google.com and open a new spreadsheet.

  2. Click File > Import.

  3. Click Upload and select your Simpplr CSV file.

  4. Under Import location, select where you want the data to appear.

  5. Under Separator type, select Comma.

  6. Click Import data.

Your data will display correctly without needing to adjust any encoding settings.

Alternative: Open in Google sheets

If you continue to experience issues in Excel on any platform, Google Sheets detects UTF-8 encoding automatically and is a reliable alternative.

  1. Go to sheets.google.com and open a new spreadsheet.

  2. Click File > Import.

  3. Click Upload and select your Simpplr CSV file.

  4. Under Import location, select where you want the data to appear.

  5. Under Separator type, select Comma.

  6. Click Import data.

Troubleshooting

Special characters or symbols appear after import

  • What happened: When you open a CSV file directly in Excel by double-clicking it, Excel assigns its default encoding instead of UTF-8. This causes special characters, accented letters, or non-English text to display as garbled symbols.

  • What to do: Close the file without saving. Reopen it using the steps in this article and make sure you select 65001: Unicode (UTF-8) from the File origin dropdown before proceeding.

The From Text option is not visible in the Data tab

  • What happened: Excel 2019, Excel 2021, and Microsoft 365 replaced the From Text option with an updated import flow.

  • What to do: Go to Data > Get Data > From File > From Text/CSV. Select your Simpplr CSV file and click Import. In the preview window, set the File Origin dropdown to 65001: Unicode (UTF-8), set the Delimiter to Comma, and click Load.

Columns are not splitting correctly

  • What happened: Simpplr CSV exports use a comma as the delimiter, but Excel may default to Tab or another option depending on your system settings, causing all data to appear in a single column or split incorrectly.

  • What to do: Go back to the delimiter selection step and make sure only Comma is selected under Delimiters. Deselect any other options that may be checked by default.

The 65001: Unicode (UTF-8) option does not appear in the File origin dropdown

  • What happened: Older versions of Excel may not display the UTF-8 encoding option in the Text Import Wizard, or the option may not be immediately visible in the dropdown list.

  • What to do: Scroll to the top of the File origin dropdown. The 65001 option appears near the top when sorted numerically. If it is still not visible, try opening the file in Excel 2010 or later. Alternatively, open the file in Google Sheets, which detects UTF-8 encoding automatically without any additional configuration.

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