XL97: CSV Format Loses Digits of Long Numbers When Saving Scientific Notation (216023)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you save a workbook in the comma separated values (CSV) format, close the workbook, and then reopen the workbook, long numbers that are in scientific notation may be lost or rounded off.

CAUSE

If you save an Excel workbook in another file format such as CSV format, some of the formatting, data, and other features -- including long numbers in scientific notation -- may be lost.

The CSV file format saves only the text and values as they are displayed in cells of the active workbook.

The Microsoft Excel workbook file format preserves all workbook and chart data, formatting, macros, and other features available in Excel.

WORKAROUND

If a workbook contains scientific notation and you want to save the workbook in CSV format, change the format of the cells that contain scientific notation to a general number format, and then save the workbook in CSV format. To do this, follow these steps:

Select the cells that you want to format.
On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Number tab.
In the Category list, click General, and then click OK.
On the File menu, click Save As. In the Save as type list, click CSV (Comma delimited) (*.CSV), and then click Save.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.