Stop Excel from automatically converting certain text values to dates

Question

Does anyone happen to know if there is a token I can add to my csv for a certain field so Excel doesn\'t try to convert it to a date?

I\'m trying to write a .csv fil

Answer 1

A workaround using Google Drive (or Numbers if you're on a Mac):

1. Open the data in Excel
2. Set the format of the column with incorrect data to Text (Format > Cells > Number > Text)
3. Load the .csv into Google Drive, and open it with Google Sheets
4. Copy the offending column
5. Paste column into Excel as Text (Edit > Paste Special > Text)

Alternatively if you're on a Mac for step 3 you can open the data in Numbers.