California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development

General Links

• Subscribe to Updates
• Acronyms
• Contact List
• Help Tools
• Public Records Request
• Site Map
• Contact Webmaster

Help Tools - Text Files

Using the Excel Text Import Wizard

When ".txt" files are opened with Excel, this format invokes the Text Import Wizard and sets the file up in the correct columns and rows. To do this:

1. Open Excel
2. Select File, Open

In the "Open" dialog box, change the "look in" drop down menu to the location where you unzipped the file; change the "Files of type" (bottom left corner) to "all files"; select the file "name" and double click or click on the "Open" button.

These actions will cause the "Text Import Wizard" to open on your screen. It takes three steps to complete.

1. Step 1 of 3, make sure the "Delimited" button is checked and click "Next".
2. Step 2 of 3 wants to know how the data is delimited. Click on "Comma". (When you do this you will notice the data in the "Data preview" window at the bottom of the dialog box changes into columns.) Click on "Next".
3. Step 3 of 3 allows coded variables to be defined as "text" here to retain leading and trailing zeros. When desired variables have been formatted, click "Finish".

The dialog box will close and the data will appear in your spreadsheet, lined up in the correct rows and columns.