Bank export cleanup
Import a monthly CSV, set amount column to currency, and trim description text with TRIM in a helper column.
How do CSV files work with Google Sheets?
CSV (comma-separated values) is a plain-text table format Sheets opens, imports, and exports easily. Use File > Import for controlled uploads or File > Download > CSV for handoffs to other tools. Watch encoding, delimiters, and date formats because CSV does not store types the way a native sheet does.
When to use it
Use CSV when moving data between systems, backing up tabular exports, feeding a database loader, or sharing a lightweight file that any spreadsheet app can open.
When to skip it
Skip CSV when you need formulas, multiple tabs, colors, or strict types preserved end to end. Use XLSX or a live Google Sheet link instead for rich workbooks.
How it works
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To import, use File > Import, upload the CSV, and choose replace, append, or new sheet.
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Pick separator type if commas inside fields confuse the preview (semicolon or tab delimited files).
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Set locale and date interpretation in the import dialog so 01/02/2025 maps correctly.
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Clean leading zeros on IDs by importing as text or prefixing with an apostrophe when needed.
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To export, open the target tab and choose File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv).
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One CSV file equals one tab; export other tabs separately or merge in script if required.
Examples in Google Sheets
CRM lead upload
Export a filtered view as CSV, then import into a sales tool that only accepts comma-separated uploads.
Scheduled backup
Copy values to a staging tab nightly with Apps Script, then save CSV to Drive for archival.
Build this without starting from a blank cell
Use a Better Sheets tool for CSV and Google Sheets, then watch a walkthrough when you want the full pattern.
Better Sheets resources
Common mistakes
- Opening CSV by double-click in Excel first, which mangled long invoice numbers before upload to Sheets.
- Exporting a sheet with formulas and expecting calculated values without copying paste-values first.
- Assuming UTF-8 emoji and accents survive every downstream tool without specifying encoding.
- Merging multiple tabs into one CSV without aligning column headers.
- Treating CSV dates as timezone-aware; they are just strings until you parse them.
Frequently asked questions
- Can Google Sheets open a CSV from Drive?
- Yes. Upload to Drive, right-click, Open with Google Sheets, or use File > Import inside a spreadsheet.
- Why did my leading zeros disappear?
- CSV and auto-formatting treat numeric-looking IDs as numbers. Import as text or format column before paste.
- Semicolon vs comma delimiter?
- European exports often use semicolons. Pick the right separator in the import dialog preview.
- Does CSV keep formulas?
- No. Export sends displayed values unless you export from a tool that embeds formulas (not standard CSV).
- Can I import CSV on a schedule?
- Use Apps Script, an add-on, or an external ETL job to fetch CSV into a tab on a trigger.
- How big can a CSV be?
- Sheets has cell limits. Very large files may need splitting or loading into BigQuery instead.
- CSV vs TSV?
- TSV uses tabs as separators. Sheets import dialog lets you choose tab as the separator type.
- Can I publish a CSV URL?
- You can publish a sheet range as CSV via published web link settings for read-only feeds.
Related Tutorials
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Make Unsplash in Google Sheets - Part 2
Related blog posts
Guides that explain CSV and Google Sheets in more depth.
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Read post →Related glossary terms
importing data into Sheets
Importing means pulling external data into a spreadsheet tab: from a file upload, another Google Sheet, a published CSV URL, or a function like IMPORTRANGE. The import dialog controls separator, locale, and whether new rows replace or append existing data.
Read guide →exporting data from Sheets
Exporting sends sheet data out of Google Sheets as a file or published feed. File > Download offers CSV, XLSX, PDF, and more for the active tab or workbook. You can also publish a range, share a view-only link, or script exports to Drive and email on a schedule.
Read guide →Excel XLSX and Google Sheets
XLSX is the modern Excel workbook format. Google Sheets opens it through File > Import or by uploading to Drive and choosing Open with Google Sheets. Most values, tabs, and basic formatting convert cleanly, but some Excel-only features need a workaround or a stay-in-Excel decision.
Read guide →normalizing data in Sheets
Normalizing means making inconsistent inputs follow one reliable shape: same date format, trimmed text, unique keys, one fact per row, and separate columns for categories that were crammed into one field. Clean data makes VLOOKUP, QUERY, and dashboards dependable.
Read guide →Done reading about CSV and Google Sheets?
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