how to import csv-file in Numbers 3.2.2.

Hi H,

Just a note from my personal experience. I've found targeted use of scripts more efficient and less likely to have unintended consequences than fiddling with system preferences, especially when several applications are open at the same time.

In use on OS X up through Yosemite, both your script and the Nigel Garvey script contained within the Automator Service perform well on a variety of CSV files, with a slight edge to Garvey script for being a little better able to handle not-quit-perfectly-formed CSV of the sort one can encounter in "real word" usage.

I don't think users need be worried about "potentially problematic" scripts here. I have yet to find a script or app than can handle all the flavors of CSV one can encounter, and I've tried a lot of them. Excel is really go at it. Numbers less so. But there are situations that even Excel can't handle gracefully.

The consequence of a problem in the script (or, indeed, in a built-in parser in Excel or Numbers) is that one file may import badly, and a user has to go back and retry or do manual cleanup. It doesn't affect other applications.

SG

Hello

As I have already explained more than once, TSV has serious flaw in not being able to represent value which contanis tab, linefeed or return chararters whereas multi-line value in cell is not uncommon in field.

H

Hi H,

Agree character-separated-values (which includes comma-separated and tab-separated) have their flaws. That's not Numbers's fault, though. Even Excel can't do a good job with some of the data files found "in the wild."

Despite the fact that the csv "standard" is loose and imperfect and that both Excel's built-in parser and, for Numbers, the scripts posted here sometimes come up short, they are really useful in many situations.

I tend to favor whatever works that gets the job done, and try not to let "perfect become the enemy of the good."

SG

SGIII,

The CSV to Tabs on Clipboard service does a way better job at importing CSV files than Numbers does itself. Numbers tries to be too smart about it and messes up text that it thinks are numbers. I have this problem all the time with Numbers importing a CSV file that has a column of "task" numbers (3.1, 3.2,..., 3.9, 3.10,...) where Numbers converts the "3.10" into "3.1" so I end up with two 3.1's and no 3.10. The automator service does not make that mistake.

Oh man, this just made my day.

Thank you!

Hello Badunit,

I'd guess it is one of the defects newly introduced in Numbers v3, for the following CSV data are imported correctly with Numbers v2.

1.0,1.00,1.000 "1.0","1.00","1.000"

If I were to use Numbers v3, I'd let Apple fix the obviously broken programme rather than indulging them with clumsy workarounds. However, I myself will never use Numbers v3 and thus not bother to send any feedback even if they're assumed to have an ear to lend to users.

All the best,

H

Numbers '09 correctly imported the data. It appears the new software team didn't understand the old software so they rewrote or modified it without knowing why it was written the way it was. Software engineers have a habit of doing this.

Hi H,

As an actual user of Numbers 3, I find that (like any other application, including Numbers 2) it has its quirks. But I do not think it is fair to describe it as a "broken programme."

Furthermore, I do not think the solutions here are fairly described as "clumsy workarounds." They do a good job in many real-world situations.

Both Numbers 3 and the solutions here are useful for me, and I think for many other users.

SG

I found changing the extension from .csv to .txt allows numbers to import properly in numbers v3.5.3.

Good solution, thanks a lot!

Tim Ost / http://www.timost.be

joeaviator wrote:

I found changing the extension from .csv to .txt allows numbers to import properly in numbers v3.5.3.

No, it doesn't. It puts everything into one column. It does not separate into columns based on commas

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the positive feedback about theCSV to Tabs on Clipboard Automator Service (Dropbox download). I've found it by far the most convenient, flexible, and reliable way to bring data from a CSV file into Numbers. It would not have been possible without the efforts of Nigel Garvey at MacScripter and of Badunit.

SG

Simply remove .xls part of file extension? I had this problem too. I imported the Excel spreadsheet from my bank. When opened in Numbers all data came in to one cell. The file I downloaded from my bank had a .csv.xls file extension. I just removed the .xls part of the file name and Numbers then recognized the .csv extension and opened it correctly.

How long does this typically take to run? I am attempting to convert a file, but it has been running for quite some time now and still indicates it is 0% complete.

Update: when looking at the clipboard it appears that the process has completed even though the gear continues spin

Truckie1963 wrote:

How long does this typically take to run?

If you're asking about the automator service, it usually takes a few seconds, typically well less than 30 seconds, to do its thing, assuming you aren't dealing with a VERY large table.

SG