Open CSV file containing leading zeros in Excel

How to open CSV file in Excel without deleting leading zeros?

01

Open new Excel workbook

Navigate to
File -> New

Open new Excel workbook

02

Import Text File

Navigate to
Data -> Get External Data -> Import Text File…

Import Text File

03

Open the CSV file

Select the CSV file and click Get Data
In case you’re opening a Gridoc export file, the file name will be in the format gridoc-export-date-time.csv

Open the CSV file

04

Text Import Wizard – Step 1

  • Check that the “Delimited” option is selected
  • Start import at row 1 (default value)
  • File origin – keep default value
Click Next

Text Import Wizard - Step 1

05

Text Import Wizard – Step 2

  • Choose “Comma” as the delimiter
  • Unselect any delimiters except “Comma”
Click Next

Text Import Wizard - Step 2

06

Text Import Wizard – Step 3

  • Hold SHIFT key and select all the columns
  • Choose “Text” as the column data format
Click Finish

Text Import Wizard - Step 3

07

Import Data

  • By default the data will be imported starting in A1 column
Click OK

Import Data

08

Result

Values in the Order Number column retain leading zeroes.

Result