Please Note
We highly recommend using LibreOffice instead of Microsoft Excel. Excel tends to have issues correctly saving and formatting the CSV files, leading to our system rejecting these uploads.
Formatting Uploads
All files uploaded must be in UTF-8 format.
Note that files cannot be converted to UTF-8 format so they must be saved in this format initially.
Follow these instructions to save in UTF-8 format:
LibreOffice
Choose File > Save As from the menu.
In the Save as type dropdown > select CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)
Tick the Edit Filter Settings tick box
Click Save
If prompted, click Use CSV
Select Character set as Unicode (UTF-8)
Click OK.
If incorrectly formatted you will see the following errors on the public page after uploading:
Microsoft Excel (Office 365)
Choose File > Save As from the menu
Select the save destination as This PC
Select CSV UTF-8 (Comma Delimited) (*.csv) from the file type dropdown, as shown below:
Hit Save
Microsoft Excel (older versions)
Choose File > Save As from the menu.
In the Save as type dropdown > select CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)
Select Web Options in the Tools...
Select the Encoding tab.
In the Save this document as: dropdown, select Unicode (UTF-8)
Opening Downloads
Usually, when you open a document using Excel or Libra Office the UTF-8 .csv file will just open as it should. Sometimes it may have trouble understanding the format. If, when you open the file it doesn't look quite right, try the following instructions:
How to import a .csv file that uses UTF-8 character encoding
Follow the steps outlined below to use Microsoft Excel 2007 to open a .csv file that uses UTF-8 character encoding.
Open Microsoft Excel 2007.
Click on the Data menu bar option.
Click on the From Text icon.
Navigate to the location of the file that you want to import. Click on the filename and then click on the Import button. The Text Import Wizard - Step 1 of 3 window will now appear on the screen.
Choose the file type that best describes your data - Delimited or Fixed Width.
Choose 65001: Unicode (UTF-8) from the drop-down list that appears next to File origin. Click Next button.
Tick the box next to comma delimiter. The Data preview window will show you how your data will appear. Click Next.
Choose the appropriate data format for each column of data that you want to import. You also have the option to not import one or more columns of data if you want.
Click on the Finish button to finish importing.
Opening a .csv File from within Excel
The safest, most reliable way to open a downloaded CSV file so that it will display and upload correctly is as follows:
Click "File > New" in Excel to create a blank document.
Click "Data" tab.
Then click "From Text" option. Select the CSV you file you have downloaded.
Excel will display "Text Import Wizard".
Select "Delimited".
In "File origin" field - select "65001 : Unicode (UTF-8)".
Select "Comma" for delimiting.
Click "Finish" button.
In the dialog window that appears - click "OK" button or click "close and load" depending on Excel version
Excel will display your CSV file - including non-English characters - properly.
Please Note!
The instructions above will vary depending on your version of Excel. If you are not able to follow these instructions, let us know your Excel version and we will be able to assist via [email protected].