Save spreadsheets in UTF-8 CSV format

Owned by Guy McAuliffe
Last updated: Aug 04, 2022 by Clarissa Forbes
2 min read

 

Why do I need to save my spreadsheet as UTF-8 CSV instead of .xls, .odt, or another filetype?

Microsoft Excel and many other spreadsheet applications do not properly handle Indigenous characters using the default 'Comma Separated Values (.csv)' exporter, or the other usual spreadsheet filetypes like .xls, .odt, etc.

By saving your spreadsheet as a .csv UTF-8 (comma delimited), you will ensure that your entries will render properly with all of the correct characters.

 

How to save your spreadsheet as UTF-8 CSV

Most spreadsheet applications are able to save and/or export in CSV UTF-8 (comma delimited) format.

Choosing an application

FirstVoices recommends OpenOffice or LibreOffice because they handle Indigenous characters correctly using the Save As: CSV option. They are also open-source projects.

Open Office

  1. If you are using Open Office, once your file is ready click "File".

  2. Click "Save as".

  3. Select "Text CSV (.csv)" under the "File type" drop down.

     

  4. After choosing "Save anyway" accept the default settings (as per the image below) by clicking OK.

Excel

  1. If you are using Excel, once your file is ready click "Export".

  2. Click "Change File Type".

  3. Click "Save As Another File Type".

     

  4. Choose "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (.csv)" format

LibreOffice

  1. If you are using LibreOffice, once your file is ready click "File".

  2. Click "Save as".

  3. Select "Text CSV (.csv)" from the "Save as type" drop-down.

  4. Check the "Edit filter settings" options.

     

  5. Click "Save".

  6. From the "Export Text File" dialog box that appears, select the "Unicode (UTF-8)" option from the "Character set" drop-down.



  7. Click "OK."

Numbers for Mac

  1. If you are using Numbers, once your file is ready click "File".

  2. Click "File".

  3. Hover over "Export To" and click on "CSV".



  4. Click "Advanced Options".

  5. Select "UTF-8" as the choice for Text Encoding.

     

  6. Click "Next".

  7. Select the save location for the file

  8. Click "Export."

 

Check your file!

After exporting/saving your file in UTF-8 CSV format, always open the exported file to make sure that all your words and characters are displaying correctly in the new format.