How To Create A Csv File In Excel 2013

When using the Import Export Suite for WooCommerce plugin, the input CSV file must be encoded in UTF-8 format. This ensures that all your post types, such as products, orders, users, etc., are imported accurately. During import, you can avoid unnecessary characters like ž, ?, etc. If the CSV file is not UTF-8 encoded, then symbols like ™, ®, ©, etc. get converted to unwanted characters.

This article explains how to apply UTF-8 encoding with major spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel and Notepad for Windows, and Apple Numbers and TextEdit for Mac. Since Google Sheets is a widely used spreadsheet application, this article also explains a UTF-8 encoding with Google Sheets.

What is UTF-8 encoding?

A character in UTF-8 can be from 1 to 4 bytes long. UTF-8 can represent any character in the Unicode standard and it is also backward compatible with ASCII as well. It is the most preferred encoding for e-mail and web pages. It is the dominant character encoding for the worldwide web.

Here are two samples:

Spread sheet not UTF-8 encoded — Sample1: Unencoded UTF-8 spreadsheet

Sample2: Spreadsheet not UTF-8 encoded — Sample2: Unencoded UTF-8 spreadsheet

How to Save a CSV file as UTF-8 using Libre Office?

Step 1 – To save a CSV file as UTF-8 encoded, follow the steps below: Open LibreOffice and go to Files from the menubar. Click on open and select the file from the computer that you want to save as a UTF-8 encoded file.

Step 2 – After opening the file go to File > Save as. From the dialog box that opens, type the name of the file and select Text CSV (.csv) from the Save as type drop-down.

Check the Edit filter settings options.

Saving file in CSV format — Save file as CSV

Click on Save.

Step 3 – From the Export Text File dialog box that appears, select the Unicode (UTF-8) option from the Character set drop-down.
Step 4 – Set the field and text delimiter as you wish or leave as is.

Step 5 – Click OK.

This will save the file as UTF-8 encoded in Libre Office.

How to Save a CSV file as UTF-8 using Google Spreadsheet?

To save the CSV file as UTF-8 encoded, you can upload the file on Google Drive and easily store it as UTF-8. The steps are as given below:

Step 1 – First, open your Google Drive account. Click on the NEWbutton on the top left corner, and click Upload filesoption.

Step 2 – Browse for the required CSV file and start uploading it.

Step 3 – Open the uploaded file with Google Spreadsheet.

Step 4 – Navigate toFile >Download as,and selectComma-separated values (.csv, current sheet) option .

The downloaded file gets saved as UTF-8 encoded by default and can be imported correctly when uploaded into our Import Export Suite for WooCommerceplugin.

How to Save the CSV file as UTF-8 in Microsoft Excel?

The steps are as given below:

Step 1 – Open the CSV file with a Microsoft Excel sheet.

Step 2 – Navigate to the File menu option and click Save As.

The window appears as shown below:

Step 3 – ClickBrowse to select a location to save the file.

TheSave As window appears as shown below:

Step 4 – Enter the name of the file.

Step 5 – Select theSave as typeas CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)option.

Step 6 – ClickTools drop-down box and clickWeb Options .A new window for web options appears as shown below:

Step 7 – Under theEncoding tab, select the optionUnicode (UTF-8) fromSave this document asdrop-down list.

Finally, clickOk,and save the file.

How to Save a CSV file as UTF-8 with Notepad?

The steps are as given below: Open the CSV file withNotepad.

Step 1 – Open the CSV file withNotepad.

Step 2 – Navigate to File > Save Asoption. A screenshot of the menu is as shown below:

Step 3 – Select the location for the file.

TheSave As window appears as shown below:

Step 4 – Select theSave as typeoption asAll Files(*.*).

Step 5 – Specify the file name with.csv extension.

Step 6 – From the Encoding drop-down list, selectUTF-8 option.

Step 7 – Click Save to save the file.

This way, you can save a file as a UTF-8 encoded with Notepad.

How to Save a CSV file as UTF-8 in Apple's Numbers?

The steps are as given below:

Step 1 – Open the file withApple Numbers.

Step 2 – Navigate toFile >Export To >CSV. A screenshot of the settings is as shown below:

Step 3 – Under Advanced Options, select Unicode(UTF-8) option for Text Encoding. A screenshot of the settings is as shown below:

Step 4 – Click Next.

Further settings appear as shown in the screenshot below:

Step 5 – Enter the name of the file and clickExport to save your file with the UTF-8 encoding.

How to save a CSV file as UTF-8 in TextEdit?

The steps are as given below:

Step 1 – Open the file with TextEdit.

Step 2 – Navigate to Format > Make Plain Text .

A screenshot of the menu is as shown below:

Step 3 – Navigate to File >Save.

It is shown as below:

Step 4 – From thePlain Text Encoding drop-down list, selectUnicode(UTF-8).

Step 5 – Finally, clickSaveto save the file.

For customer queries and support, contact WebToffee support.

To know more about other features of the plugin, read the documentation.

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