Re: Excel Files

[Bob Harvey <bharvey@CONNECT1.REACH.NET>]

I second Ray's suggestion for CSV files.

I create these on a frequent basis for users at a very large Corporation.

Some of the users have required column headings and they can be incorporated
by setting enclosed by quotes and separated by commas.

By not placing the fields in a fixed position, it is possible to significantly
reduce the size of the ouput file.

Bob Harvey
Bertnor Consulting Services

At 06:40 PM 11/20/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Paige,
>
>> We are currently creating ascii files with a ";" delimiter to get our
>> files in to an Excel Spreadsheet.  We are creating an .lis and then the
>> user is opening that .lis in Excel.  I am curious to know if there is
>> anyone out there that has automated the process of creating the file and
>> taking it in to Excel without user intervention.
>
>I have created "csv" (comma-separated, variable field length) files
>in which all numeric fields are written using formats similar to
>8888888.88, and all string fields are written between double quotes,
>and fields are separated by commas.  These can simply be opened by
>Excel with minimal fuss by the user.  Microsoft may have a conversion
>utility that you can run from the command line; I'm not sure.  Check
>their website.
>
>Ray
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>Ray Ontko       |  Ray Ontko & Co  |  "Time for a new signature line."
>rayo@ontko.com  |  Richmond, In    |  See us at http://www.ontko.com/
>
Bob and Eleanor Harvey
bharvey@reach.net