The use case is the following :
When I import a CSV file without knowing the correct delimiter (comma, semicolon, tab, etc…), I have to choose one blindly. If I choose wrong I have to delete the sheet and import the file again. It can be frustrating when it takes a few tries. (see illustration below)
This happens to me regularly (CSV exports from banks, or other websites or third party software are not consistent. Comma and semicolon are the most used delimiters in my experience but I occasionally get others as well).
Suggestion : maybe when choosing the delimiter we could have a preview of a few lines to ensure that the file is correctly parsed before clicking the ok button? But I am open to any idea that might help with this problem.
Here is the dialog for importing CSV. I have to choose the delimiter blindly because I can only see the result after clicking OK.
Here are some information in case this is only
OS version: Windows 11
App version: 7.4.1.36 (x64 exe)
Downloaded from: ONLYOFFICE website
Hello, @rfen ! I support your idea! Although CSV is a simple TXT file and it can be preliminarily opened in a Notepad (so that one finds out which delimiter is used), it will be a lot more convenient with a preview as you suggest! The preview might help as well choose the correct encoding.
Hello @Alfozavr and @rfen
We know about this situation and we are working on it already. The web version of the editor already has preview field for this scenario (to check out correct encoding\delimiters). Unfortunately, Desktop version of the editor doesn’t have it yet. I have collected your suggestions and I will update this thread when we have something to share.
Hi Alexandre. Is it possible to save files as pipe-delimited in the desktop editors yet please? If not, is this feature still on the list to be added, or has it been shelved? Thanks.
Hello @SRF
The situation mentioned in this thread ( preview for choosing delimiter for csv files) was added in v.8.2 for Desktop Editors. Now csv files open correctly:
If I misunderstood your request, please clarify it.
This is great, but I was hoping for the option to change the delimiter when SAVING a CSV file (e.g. to a pipe, rather than a comma). I can’t see any way to do that. What am I doing wrong?
Dear @SRF
Could you please describe the use case? I mean scenario where you would need to change the delimiter during the Save action after already selecting it in the Open action.
Ah, I got it. We have added your request to internal tracksystem. We have started working on it.
I will update this thread once we have something to share.
In my particular case, it’s when I want to save a text file that includes commas as part of the data. I write (terrible!) text adventures as a hobby and build the data in OnlyOffice’s spreadsheet. If I save it as a csv file, it splits up sentences with commas into separate fields, which is not what I want. A pipe is never used in text descriptions (unlike a comma)… hence the request to be able to select it as a delimiter. At the moment I have to load the file into LibreOffice, which does do this.
Understood, thank you for the clarification. We’re planning to implement such feature (change the delimiter when saving a csv file). I will update this thread once we have something to share.
