Convert xls to csv without any data changes

Question

I have an xls file with a lot of Unicode data, including information like this: 0004 and others.

I need to export this file in CSV format, however when I do so from Microsoft Excel, the data are altered. Unicode symbols are transformed to "???," and values like "0004" are changed to "4".

Is it feasible to convert xls to CSV without modifying the data?

Answer 1

Here are the 3 solutions I have got:

I) With OpenOffice you can convert any ms excel format to any excel format (CSV too) and you can choose the character encoding, delimiter characters, etc for example utf-8 too.

• Open xls file in openoffice
• File/Save as
• Choose the output format (CSV)
• Click on save
• A dialog appears, choose character encoding, delimiter character, and the other.

II) You can do it with ms office >= 2010 too:

http://www.excelforum.com/excel-general/400043-csv-and-unicode-or-utf-8-problem.html

III) Or if you have notepad++ you can convert the character encoding of the 'wrong' character encoded CSV file. Character Encoding, UTF or ANSI?