Import Data into Excel

The import process of data into statistical tools is quite the same transverse the different statistical programs. 

Three things to keep in mind when importing your data to the statistical programs are:

  • Data format = .csv
  • Encoding = UTF-8
  • Delimiter = Semicolon

How to import into Excel

Known issues: Currently there is an issue when importing a .csv into Excel 2013 and the .csv file contains a free text field with a line break (e.g 'enter'). This will cause the data to jump to the next row. This does NOT happen in Excel 16.

For the best format of .csv files in Excel and to make sure all special characters are shown correctly, importing data to Excel should be done by:

  • Windows - Excel 16
  • MacOS - Excel 16
  • Windows - Excel 13

Windows - Excel 16 

  1. Open Excel > New Project
  2. Click on Data in the top Menu  

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  3. Click New Query > From file > From CSV

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  4. Find the Data you want to import > Import
  5. Chose Delimiter > Semicolon
  6. Select the File Origin > Unicode UTF-8 to ensure the correct form of text

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You are now ready to Import your Data into Excel. 


Please note: If your data is stuck and doesn't load, you should click on the "Refresh" icon or "cancel" and then "reload"

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MacOS - Excel 16 

  1. Open Excel > New Project
  2. Click on Data > From Text  in the top Menu
  3. Find the Data you want to Import 

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  4. In the first step chose Delimited
  5. Set File origin to Unicode (UTF-8)

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  6. In step 2, chose Semicolon

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  7. In step 3, choose Text

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  8. When you press Ok, the Data will be imported into Excel and the characters will be shown correctly

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Windows - Excel 2013 

  1. Launch Excel Workbook and click the Data menu. Then navigate to Get External Data section.

  2. Click the From Text option under Get External Data section.

  3. In the Import Text File window, select the .csv file and click Import button. This should display the following Text Import Wizard

    File Origin should be set to UTF-8.

  4. The columns in the .csv file have been separated using the semicolons. Select Delimited option for “Choose the file type that best describes your data”.


  5. After selecting an appropriate value for Start import at row and File Origin, click the Next button


  6. In Step 2 of Text Import Wizard, choose semicolon under Delimiters section. You can preview the selection using Data preview section.
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  7. Click the Next button to access the data format screen in Text import Wizard.

  8. Click the Finish button on Text Import Wizard for completion.