How to Open a Large Text File in Excel

Working with large text files can be frustrating, especially when trying to import them into Microsoft Excel. One way to overcome this issue is by converting the text file to a CSV (Comma Separated Values) format, which is easily readable by Excel.

To begin, highlight the UPC's column in your text file and right-click on it. From the dropdown menu, select 'Format Cells.' This will trigger a conversion process that may change the format of your UPC's during the transformation. After completing this step, you need to save the file as a CSV and change its extension accordingly.

Once you've saved the file as a CSV, Excel will open with the file still bearing the original .txt extension at the top of the screen. However, you'll notice that the sheet has now been filled with the completed CSV data.

Next, proceed to the Text Import Wizard by following these steps:

1. Leave all default settings and click 'Finish.'

2. Under the 'Delimiters' section, uncheck the default selection (usually set to 'Tab') and select 'Other:'.

3. Enter the Pipe symbol (|) in the box and click 'Next.'

4. Check 'Delimited' for the file type description and click 'Next.'

The Text Import Wizard will then pop up with a list of files available for import. Select your text file by clicking on it, followed by the 'Open' button.

If you don't see your file listed, ensure that the file extension is set to show all files. Navigate to the location where your txt file is stored and open it using Excel's 'File' > 'Open' option. For older versions of Excel, click on the office button in the upper left-hand corner and select 'Open.'

By following these steps, you'll be able to successfully import large text files into Excel and start analyzing your data with ease.

How to open a large text file in excel