In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of saving specific or selected Excel columns as a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file. Whether you're preparing data for use in another application or sharing a streamlined dataset with team members, this detailed walkthrough will help you complete the task quickly and accurately.

No matter if you're a data analyst, academic researcher, or business user, mastering the ability to export only the necessary Excel columns into CSV format can significantly boost your productivity. Eliminate time-consuming manual copying and formatting, and move toward a more efficient workflow that lets you focus on analysis and decision-making.

Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

1. Import or export text (.txt or .csv) files
2. Import a text file by connecting to it (Power Query)
3. Export data to a text file by saving it
4. Change the delimiter used when importing a text file
5. FAQs
6. Final Thoughts

Import or export text (.txt or .csv) files

There are two primary ways to handle text files (.txt or .csv) in Excel: opening them directly or importing them as external data. When exporting from Excel to a text format, the Save As feature allows you to choose your preferred file type from a dropdown menu.

Here’s how to import a text file by opening it directly in Excel:

1. Launch Excel and go to the "File" menu.
2. Click on "Open" and browse to the folder containing your text file.
3. From the file type filter, select "Text Files."
4. Find your desired file and double-click it to open.
5. For .txt files, Excel will start the Import Text Wizard—follow the prompts and click "Finish" to complete the import.
6. If it's a .csv file, Excel will automatically load it into a new workbook.

Note: Excel uses default formatting rules when opening CSVs. For more control over data types during import, use the Import Text Wizard.

Import a text file by connecting to it (Power Query)

An alternative and powerful way to bring text data into Excel is via Power Query. Here’s how:

1. Open Excel and switch to the "Data" tab.
2. In the "Get & Transform Data" section, click "From Text/CSV." This opens the "Import Data" window.
3. Navigate to your file, select it, and click "Import."

In the preview window, you’ll have three options:

• Choose Load to insert the data directly into a new worksheet.
• Pick Load To to specify where the data goes—such as a table, PivotTable, existing worksheet, or the Data Model.
• Select Transform Data to edit the dataset in Power Query before loading it into Excel.

If any columns aren’t formatted correctly (e.g., numbers as text), you can fix them after import. Check out guides on converting text to numbers or dates for further help.

Export data to a text file by saving it

You can export Excel data to a text file using the Save As command. Follow these steps:

1. Open the worksheet with the data you want to export.
2. Go to the "File" tab and select "Save As."
3. Click "Browse" to choose your save location.
4. In the "Save As" dialog, pick your preferred format from the "Save as type" dropdown—like "Text (Tab delimited)" or "CSV (Comma delimited)."
   
   Tip: Different formats support different features, so pick the one that best fits your needs.
5. Navigate to your desired folder and click "Save."
6. A warning may appear stating that only the active sheet will be saved. Confirm by clicking "OK." Repeat for other sheets if needed.

Reminder: You might see a notification below the ribbon warning that some formatting or features could be lost when saving as CSV.

Once saved, your data will be available in the chosen text format at the specified location.

Change the delimiter used when importing a text file

The method for changing delimiters depends on how you're importing the file. Here’s how to do it using the Text Import Wizard:

1. Open Excel and go to the "Data" tab.
2. In the "Get External Data" group, click "From Text" to launch the Text Import Wizard.
3. In Step 1, browse and select your file, then click "Import."
4. In Step 2, you’ll see a data preview. Choose your delimiter from the options (such as comma, space, or tab), or enter a custom one in the "Other" field.
5. Use the "Text qualifier" section to manage how quotation marks are handled.
6. Watch the preview update in real time as you adjust settings.
7. Proceed through the remaining steps to finish importing.

FAQs

How do I export a single column from Excel to CSV?
Copy the column you need, open a new CSV file (or a blank Excel workbook), paste the data into the first column, then save it as CSV.

Can I save only certain columns in Excel as a CSV?
Yes. Select the columns by dragging across their headers, copy them, paste into a new workbook, and save that file as CSV.

How do I export both selected rows and columns to CSV?
Highlight the specific range of cells, copy them, paste into a fresh worksheet, and save the new file in CSV format.

Is it possible to convert selected cells to CSV?
Absolutely. Just copy the cells, paste them into a new workbook, and save it as a CSV file.

How can I import only specific columns from a CSV into Excel?
Use Power Query: go to "Data" > "From Text/CSV," select your file, and during the preview step, uncheck the columns you don’t want before loading.

Final Thoughts

Exporting only the required Excel columns as a CSV file is a smart way to share clean, focused datasets without extra clutter. With just a few simple actions, you can isolate key information for analysis or collaboration. Always review the exported CSV file to confirm that your selected columns appear correctly before distributing or using the data.

One more thing

If you found this guide helpful, consider sharing it on your social media—it might help someone else too.

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