Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 49828
Unable to import text files into Calc
Last modified: 2010-11-11 20:28:45 UTC
I have made some comments in issue 34078, but I feel that these comments might be overlooked as the issue is not a DEFECT issue. Here are the comments I made on issue 34078: <Comments> Hi all, I have been an OpenOffice user for a while, and started with version 1.1.4. I have downloaded the latest beta build (OpenOffice.org 1.9.100) and must say that I am very impressed with the product. In my line of work, I continually deal with files received from different sources which needs to be imported into our system. The data comes in various formats and have to be "re-worked" to get it into a format suitable to import into our system. The files we receive come in a variety of formats including Fixed-width or a various other delimited type files. Calc is absolutely perfect for this. However, I am unable to import any text file properly into Calc anymore since I started using the new version. I searched all issues I could find and decided to post to this issue. I tried everything to open the files but nothing works - I tried using the OpenOffice dialogs, default system dialogs and even various options - nothing seems to work... I will attempt to list all my methods: 1. File -> "Open" Select file and File Type as "Text CSV (*.csv; *.txt)" Select the "Open" button RESULT: This imports the file into Writer 2. Insert -> "Sheet..." Select "From File" option Select "Browse" button Select file and File Type as "Text CSV (*.csv; *.txt)" Select the "Insert" button 1.1.4 RESULT: Sheet 1 appears in the box next to the "Browse" button and the import dialog pops up. With this, I could still import the file. 1.9.100 RESULT: System seems to think/freeze for a few seconds and then returns to "Insert -> Sheet..." dialog. Nothing happens after this. You are free to close the dialog - the system did not freeze, but no import dialog popped up either. 3. Insert -> "Sheet From File..." Select file and File Type as "Text CSV (*.csv; *.txt)" Select the "Insert" button RESULT: System seems to think/freeze for a few seconds and then returns to "Insert -> Sheet..." dialog. Nothing happens after this. You are free to close the dialog - the system did not freeze, but no import dialog popped up either. (Same as 2.) 4. Insert -> "Link to External Data..." Select the "..." button Select file and File Type as "Text CSV (*.csv; *.txt)" Select the "Insert" button RESULT: System seems to think/freeze for a few seconds and then returns to Insert -> "Link to External Data..." dialog. It did not carry the value of the file that was chosen, but this is a seperate issue... Type the fully pathed name of the file into the dialog and press the Enter key RESULT: System seems to think/freeze for a few seconds and then remains on the Insert -> "Link to External Data..." dialog. This is unfortunately a real problem as this is much needed functionality that used to worked. In my humble opinion, I believe that this warrants a priorty larger than a P3. Could this PLEASE be sorted out for the latest stable version of OpenOffice (v2) as I am already a fan of the new look-and-feel OpenOffice and would not want to be left behind on OpenOffice.org. 1.1.4. By the way, before I forget, I tested the said version on a Windows XP Home Edition platform. Thanks to all the contributors for a great product! </Comments> In addition to this, I have downloaded then latest build/release (1.9.104) and re-tested the functionality. The results remain the same. Any idea if this will be sorted for the final build of OpenOffice.org 2.0?
For now I can't reproduce without a file from you. So please attach a file which causes these problems. Frank
Created attachment 26542 [details] Fixed-Width # Delimited File (No Extension)
Created attachment 26543 [details] Fixed-Width # Delimited File With NULL characters
I decided to produce some sample files because I am not allowed/able to supply the files I work with. I learned a couple of things in the process... 1) If a file does not have an extension or does not have an extension OpenOffice recognizes, it exhibits the behaviour where it ignores you. With version 1.1.4, a dialog used to pop up, asking you to supply a Filter - from which you could select "Text CSV" if you specified a file with an unknown extension to the import dialogs. This is the part that does not happen anymore/which is broken. If your file has an extension of .txt or .csv, it seems to work fine. This basically seems to be regressed functionality - and I am not sure if this is a conscious decision. I preferred the previous functionality more. I guess more users than not would recon like me in my first impression, that this is broken... 2) In the second attached file, with NULL characters, you get the same behaviour from the new OpenOffice - it just ignores you... With version 1.1.4, it imported these funny characters and the appeared as little blocks in the appropriate cells. This of course gave you the opportunity to delete these rubbish characters. Again, this used to work in version 1.1.4. Most users would never be able to see NULL characters in something like Notepad or normal text editors, nor know that they exist... Because of this, they would not understand why OpenOffice ignores them when they want to open a file they used to be able to open with 1.1.4. Is this a regression or is it intended - and again - I like the old functionality on this better. ;) Once again, thanks for a lovely product! Regards, Chris
i am able to import text file in to calc through Insert -->Sheet.. and sheet from file option. pls try using 1.9.104
Hi chrishk I can't reproduce your problem. I heavily import CSV and other ascii file and I was able to import you "TestFile1" without any problem on the first try. What I did: - Open OOo Calc (not Writer!) - Selecte File->Load - Select your File - After that, change file type to Text CSV (Your file is not shown any more because it doesn't have a valid extension. But that doesn't matter. Just be sure the filename is still entered. ) - Click OK - The CSV import dialog opens, you can select the format (e.g. "#" delimited) and OOO will load the file just fine. Tested with WinXP and OOo1.0.9. Now to the second file. This one is indeed not accepted, presumably because of the null characters (which are probably not allowed in CSV files). What you can do is: - Load this file into OOo. It will come up in OOo Writer, no matter what you do. - Save the file as text file with a .csv extension (in order not to overwrite the original one). This will create a text file with the null characters removed. - Open OOo Calc and import the new file there as described above. Hope that helps. Please note also: 1. What causes you all this trouble is that your file has no extension. I would strongly recomment giving ascii tables the ".csv" extension. This way they are readily recognized by OOo Calc (and other software) and treated as such. Also, your approach 3 ("Sheet From File...") will likely work then. (It does for me.) 2. I'll close this issue. If you believe that OOo not accepting text files with null characters as "CSV files" is a bug, please open a new bug report (priority 4 I'd say) specifically for this. Matthias Basler
closed
I checked with "Ooo 3.0.0 (DE) Multilingual version German UI WIN XP: [OOO300m9 (Build9358)]" and can confirm the reported effect. OOo will open "TestFile1-broken.txt" from WIN Explorer correctly as .csv with CALC, but it will open the document with WRITER if you try from OOo file menu. I believe THAT is a bug. We have several issues concerning this or similar problems Issue 49828 (WFM? I don' think so) Issue 65460 (invalid?) Issue 80393 (invalid) Issue 93488 (might be something different with double semicolons and double quotes)
Created attachment 73840
SPAM.