Transform CSV Data to Excel: Discover 2 Proven Methods for Success

Swapping CSV files for Excel format can feel cumbersome, especially for those who prioritize streamlined data management. Whether you’re diving into financial reports or organizing contacts, transforming your datasets efficiently is essential. Today, we’re diving deep into two easy methods to convert your CSV files into Excel, tailored just for you.

Method 1: Convert CSV to Excel Using Microsoft Excel

Excel has been a trusted companion for data enthusiasts for over three decades. One of its standout features is the ability to effortlessly import data from various formats. If you occasionally need to import CSV data and prefer a straightforward approach without adding new tools, this method is perfect for you.

Step 1: Import CSV from the Data Tab

For our example, we’ll use a CSV file sourced from the European Open Data portal. Let’s start by downloading a list of public venues in Potsdam.

Open Excel and navigate to the Data tab.
Locate the Get & Transform Data group and click on From Text/CSV. Choose the CSV file you’d like to import.

Step 2: Configure the Import Wizard

After selecting the CSV file, the Import Wizard will pop up. Here’s how to navigate it:

File Origin: Choose the correct character encoding. For our example, Windows-1252 might not display special characters properly. Opt for Unicode (UTF-8) to avoid issues.
Delimiter: Confirm that Excel recognizes your delimiter. If it’s incorrect, select one from the drop-down or choose Custom to input the right character.
Data Types: Excel attempts to auto-detect data types based on the first 200 rows. You can expand this to include the whole document or disable auto-detection entirely.

Step 3: Load the CSV Data

If everything looks correct in the preview window, you can either press the Load button to import the data directly or select Load to… to fine-tune your import settings. Notably, you can opt to create a new worksheet, or even generate a Pivot Table or Chart right away.

After successfully loading, you’ll see your data neatly formatted in Excel, ready for further analysis or modifications.

Method 2: Convert CSV to Excel Using n8n

Now, let’s explore the more advanced option of converting CSV files to Excel using n8n.

Why Use n8n for This Task?

While the manual method in Excel is straightforward, n8n enhances your experience with powerful automation capabilities. Here’s how n8n shines:

Automate Conversions: Save time by automating repetitive processes, including bulk conversion of multiple files.
Data Manipulation: Customize your data before conversion—apply filters or programmatically add new columns.
Surpass Excel Limits: Excel has its constraints, but with n8n, you can detect edge cases and manage lengthy data without hassle.
Custom Integrations: Easily connect various systems, allowing for seamless workflow expansions over time.

For our automation scenario, we’ll download a CSV from a URL and then convert it to an Excel file, particularly useful for data sourced from public databases.

Step 1: Get a CSV File

Upon initiating the workflow, n8n employs the HTTP Request node to send a GET request to your specified URL, expecting a CSV file in return. Remember to set the Response format to File.

Step 2: Convert CSV Data to JSON

Once you have the CSV file, utilize the Spreadsheet node to read it.

Select Read From File as the Operation settings.
Specify a Header Row option and use ; as your Delimiter.

This node will convert your CSV data into JSON format, which serves as a universal standard in n8n for further processing.

Step 3: Convert JSON Data to Excel

With your data in JSON format, add a new node (Convert to Excel) to save it as an Excel file.

Choose Write to File as the Operation setting.
Pick XLSX File Format, then enter a dynamic name, such as converted_csv.{{ $parameter.fileFormat }}, ensuring it carries the correct extension.

More Workflow Examples for Working with CSV

n8n offers hundreds of nodes to process CSV data, and the possibilities are virtually endless. Here are a few interesting workflows:

Import CSV from URL to Google Sheets: Automatically process a downloaded CSV file and send it to Google Sheets.
Import Multiple CSVs to Google Sheets: Combine several CSV files and manage them through Google Sheets after preprocessing.
Prepare CSV Files with GPT-4: Generate mock user data with the help of the GPT-4 API, perfect for development and testing purposes.
Import CSV Data into MySQL: Seamlessly load CSV files into a MySQL database with dedicated nodes.
Export SQL Table to CSV: Convert data from MS SQL to CSV easily, capturing essential records.

Wrap Up

Today, we explored two effective methods for converting CSV files to Excel, each catering to different needs. You learned how the manual approach in Excel can facilitate straightforward conversions, while n8n’s automation capabilities empower you for ongoing data management tasks.

What’s Next?

Let this guide serve as your launchpad into deeper workflows:

Delve into hundreds of n8n nodes for innovative ways to process your CSV files.
Discover how to export data from SQL databases to CSV or import CSV to Snowflake.
Take on a new challenge by implementing the HTTP Request node for custom integrations.

Start your automation journey with n8n today. Sign up for a free cloud account or install n8n on your personal server to experience the transformative power of automation. Remember, our options range from a free Community Edition to an Enterprise plan, and even a new startups plan!