Smart Way to Import CSV and TXT Files into Excel

Importing CSV and TXT files is part of every Microsoft Excel professional’s workflow. These lightweight formats are ideal for transferring data between systems, but a wrong import can lead to misplaced columns, corrupted dates, or broken formulas. This guide shows the correct and efficient way to import CSV and TXT files in Excel while keeping your data structured and analysis-ready.

Why Proper Importing Matters for Excel Dashboards

Whether you’re building Dashboard Templates or Financial Dashboards, clean import practices ensure that numeric, text, and date data remain accurate. Proper imports minimize rework, speed up your reports, and prepare your files for formulas, pivot tables, and visual dashboards.

Best Practice: Import Using Power Query

  • Go to Data → Get Data → From File → From Text/CSV.
  • Preview your file, set the correct delimiter, and adjust column data types.
  • Click Transform Data to clean or format your dataset before loading.

💡 Power Query allows you to remove extra rows, split text, fix dates, and even auto-refresh your data whenever the source file updates.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Opening files by double-clicking (leads to locale-based formatting errors).
  • Losing leading zeros in IDs or zip codes.
  • Incorrect date conversions or misaligned columns.

Fix: Always import through Power Query instead of opening directly. It gives full control and prevents unwanted changes.

What to Do After Import

  • Convert imported data into an Excel Table (Ctrl + T).
  • Apply conditional formatting and filters for quick insights.
  • Build Google Sheets Dashboards or Excel reports using formulas like VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, or INDEX-MATCH.

Learn More with Other Levels

Explore more Excel tips and free resources on Other Levels, or watch our free tutorials on the Other Levels YouTube Channel to enhance your data management skills.

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