Sometimes, CSV files downloaded from Culture Amp may not open correctly in Microsoft Excel. Instead of seeing your data in separate columns, it might appear all in one cell.
Why this happens
This issue usually stems from how Excel interprets the CSV file, often due to default locale settings in your operating system or Excel. The key problem is the way Excel handles the comma (,) delimiter, which is used in CSV files exported from Culture Amp. In some locales, Excel may treat the comma as a decimal separator rather than a delimiter, causing all your data to appear in one cell.
Important: Since CSV files don’t contain formatting information (like delimiters), Culture Amp can’t define how the file should be opened. This means you might need to adjust how you open the file in Excel, or use a different program altogether.
Tip: Consider opening your CSV file in another program, like Google Sheets or Apple Numbers. These apps typically handle CSV files without any additional steps.
Suggested actions to open in Microsoft Excel
If you must use Excel and can’t try another program, follow these steps to open your CSV file correctly:
Open Excel (but don’t open the CSV file yet).
Go to the Data tab.
In the "Get & Transform Data" section, click From Text/CSV.
In the Import Data dialog box, locate and select the downloaded CSV file.
In the Text Import Wizard, choose Delimited and click Next.
Select Comma as the delimiter and click Next.
Ensure all columns are highlighted in the preview, then click Next.
Choose the appropriate data format for each column (e.g., General, Text, Date) and click Finish.
Important:
Culture Amp cannot verify or guarantee that these steps will work for every setup, as Excel’s behavior depends on your system and locale settings.
If the issue persists, we recommend reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.
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