iWork Numbers: How to Open Tab Delimited CSV Files

Contributor Icon Contributed by tipmonkies Date Icon October 2, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Apple Mac

Google adsense and many other programs export data into tab delimited CSV files. Numbers will not open these files with the correct formatting. However, with some minor preparation, Numbers will open the files perfectly.


The problem is honestly not iWork’s Numbers program. The problem is that CSV files are not supposed to be tab delimited. As their name suggests, CSV files should contain Comma Seperated Values.

Although Excel does not care and has a wizard to walk the user through the import process, Numbers is a little more strict.

This is what happens if you try to load a tab delimited CSV file in Numbers:

Messy, huh?

Luckily, the fix is very easy. Tab delimited files should be in txt format. In a Finder window, click on your .csv file and rename it to a .txt file.

Now when you open the file in Numbers, you formatting will be correct.

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  • zach
    nice!
  • InTrutina
    Numbers doesn't strictly adhere to the comma itself though. The Dutch version uses semicolons instead of commas as the comma is the decimal point in the Dutch languange.
  • unlucky
    I have no luck...
  • Luke
    I've got semi colon delimited data and this work around doesn't work. Not happy with Apple about this one.
  • amasango
    Thanks so much for this information it's been really helpful and is much appreciated.
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