When exporting ticket numbers or other large numerical data to a CSV file, Excel often displays these numbers in scientific notation (e.g., 7.82634E+13). This default behavior can make the data difficult to read and work with.


Cause

CSV files do not include formatting details. When Excel opens a CSV file, it applies the "General" format, which interprets large numbers as scientific notation. This results in the numbers being truncated or shortened.


Solution

To display ticket numbers fully in Excel, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the CSV File in Excel
When prompted to remove leading zeros, select Don't Convert to keep the leading zeros intact.


Step 2: Review the Display

After opening the file, ticket numbers may appear in scientific notation.



Step 3: Change the Column Format

1. Select the column containing the ticket numbers.

2. Right-click and choose Format Cells

3. In the Format Cells dialog box, select Number from the category list.

4. Set Decimal places to 0 (to avoid any decimal numbers being shown).

5. Click OK to apply the changes. The ticket numbers should now display correctly, without scientific notation.


Important for CSV Files

If you save the file as a CSV again, Excel may revert to scientific notation when reopened. To prevent this:

  • Save the file as an Excel Workbook (.xlsx) to retain the format.
  • If you must save it as a CSV, you will need to reapply the formatting each time you open it.


Additional Tips

  • Leading Zeros: If your ticket numbers start with leading zeros, ensure you select No when Excel asks to remove them.
  • Permanent Solution: If working with CSV files that contain large numbers regularly, consider exporting the data as text to prevent Excel from automatically applying scientific notation.

 
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I automate the format change for future exports?

  • A: Excel defaults to scientific notation for CSV files. To retain formatting, save the file as an ".xlsx" after making changes.

 

Q: Why do numbers revert to scientific notation when I reopening the CSV? 

  • A: CSV files do not store formatting. To avoid this, save the file as an Excel Workbook or reapply the formatting each time you open the CSV file.