Import Text File - CERTAIN COLUMNS ONLY

[bauer24]

Hi all,

Importing text files into excel is farely simple having googled round the topic. The text file i'm importing is awfully big though, so I wondered if I could just read in the columns I need to speed things up.

(I could import the whole thing then delete the columns I don't want after but that won't make the import stage any quicker)

So does anyone know how I can import just, say, the 1st,2nd, 4th and 10th columns for example?

cheers!!!!!
Dan

 

[Sandeep Warrier]

Convert your text file to a .csv file. Open up excel and goto Data -> Import External Data -> New Database Query

Click on the 1st option (New Data Source) and click on OK.
Name your connection. (Example - Connect CSV). Select the driver to be Microsoft Text Driver (*.txt,*.csv) and click on connect.

Uncheck the use currect directory option and click on select directory. Browse to the directory that contains your CSV and click on OK. Click OK again and OK once more. You would be back to the Choose Data Source window. Select your newly made connection and click on ok. In the new window you would find your CSV already visible. Click ok the "+" to expand and select the columns you need and click the > button. Once all required columns are on the right side click Next, Next once more and sort it if you wish and click next. Click the option Return Data to Microsoft Excel and Click on Finish. You will be asked to select the column where you want your data pasted. Select the column and click OK.

Your data has been imported to excel.