columns into comma separated text

Question

Level 1

8 points

columns into comma separated text

Hi, I'm new here and couldn't find a solution in this forum. I have a spreadsheet of numbers 8 columns (some empty) and 16 rows. I want to be able to copy the numbers inside of the cells into comma separated text.

Since spreadsheets tend to be a foreign language to me, I'll share what I'm doing. Maybe you know a better way. If I can get all of the numbers in the yellow and blue areas as text and separated by commas, I can paste them into my Lightroom catalogue and filter the photos all at once. For years I have been selecting one by one. Can anybody help me?

I am very new. I don't know Numbers or Excel at all, so please be patient with me and pretend you're teaching a kindergarten child. Because you essentially are.

Thank you so much in advance.

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), iOS 8.4.1

Posted on Aug 21, 2015 2:56 PM

Reply

Answer 1

FoxFifth

Level 10

472,641 points

Aug 21, 2015 3:35 PM in response to MyCatRupert

You can use the Numbers File menu Export To and choose CSV as the type of export. This will create a file with the data in the comma separated format. If you only want to export part of the spreadsheet, you may have to first select (highlight) that part, use the Edit menu Copy item, then open a new Numbers spreadsheet and use the Edit menu Paste item -- and then do the Export. There may be an easier way but I am not a Numbers expert so that's the best I can recommend.

Reply

Answer 2

Barry

Level 9

59,957 points

Aug 21, 2015 3:59 PM in response to MyCatRupert

Hi MCR,

The most basic method would be to choose Export > CSV from the File menu.

The possible disadvantage is that you would then get a CSV file containing the data from every cell (including the empty ones), separated by commas, with the rows separated by returns.

Here's a reconstructed example of your table, using text in columns A and J, random numbers in columns B, F, G and H, and with all other columns empty.

Below the table is the CSV file, opened into Text Edit. Each row of cells is converted to a line of text, with the content of each cell separated from the content of the one following by a comma. The first row, where all cells are empty, consists of a line of commas with nothing between them.

When opened by Lightroom, the contents of each cell in a row should be placed into a single field in one record. It is possible that importing the CSV data will overwrite existing data in Lightroom, so I would strongly suggest making a copy of your Lightroom file and using the copy for testing and experimenting.

I'm sure you'll have further questions. Don't be afraid (or embarrassed) to ask.

Regards,

Barry

PS: Fox's remarks regarding how to make a CSV of only part of the table are spot on. I was waiting for some tuning of your request before adding them to my replies.

B

Reply