Environment
Microsoft Excel
Issue
Formatting changes applied and saved to a .CSV file are not retained. The changes are not present when reopening the file after saving the changes.
Resolution
A CSV file is text-based and as such doesn't support formatting changes that are applied. Microsoft Excel will still allow you to apply formatting when actively working on a .CSV file; however, the formatting that was applied will not save to the .CSV file.
If formatting changes need to be saved, the .CSV file will need to be saved in a different format, such as .XLS or .XLSX, using the "Save As" option from the File menu.
Additional Information
Examples of formatting based changes include, but are not limited to:
- Cell background colors & text colors
- bold, italic, underlined text
- Text font
- Sort & filter data options
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.