Open, import and save CSV files in SAM Count
Import CSV data with the right encoding and columns, preserve Arabic text and IDs, and save a separate CSV export.
This guide is based on application documentation. Its full procedure has not yet been tested directly; some details may vary by operating system and version.
Step by step
- Keep the original CSV file as a backup. In SAM Count, press Ctrl+O (Cmd+O on a Mac), select the .csv file and open it; the Text Import dialog lets you check the data before importing.
- For a UTF-8 file, choose Unicode (UTF-8) in Character set and check that Arabic text is readable in the preview. Set From row to 1 to include the headings. If characters look wrong, select the file’s actual encoding or obtain a UTF-8 copy before continuing.
- Choose Separated by and select the separator used by the file, such as Comma, Semicolon or Tab. Set String delimiter to the file’s quote character, usually a double quote ("). Check the preview: each heading and its values should occupy one column; leave Merge delimiters off when empty fields must be preserved.
- Click each ID or phone-number column heading in the preview and set Column type to Text so a value such as 00123 keeps its leading zeros. Use Text for dates whose original spelling must remain unchanged, and leave Detect special numbers off unless you intend date or number conversion. Leave Evaluate formulas off to import entries beginning with = as text.
- Confirm the import with OK, then check headings, row counts, Arabic text, IDs and dates against the original. Choose File > Save As and save an editable working copy as ODF Spreadsheet (.ods), or .xlsx when needed; save your edits in that workbook before exporting.
- To save a CSV copy, make the sheet you need active and choose File > Save As. Use a different file name and select Text CSV (.csv) as the file type. Enable Edit filter settings if the save dialog offers it, then save to review the export options.
- In Export Text File, choose Unicode (UTF-8), the Field delimiter required by the receiving system and a double quote (") as String delimiter. Leave Fixed column width off for a delimited CSV and leave Save cell formulas instead of calculated values off when the recipient needs results. Review the options and confirm.
- Reopen the exported CSV with the same encoding, delimiter and Text column settings. The expected result is one table with the correct rows and columns, readable Arabic text and unchanged IDs such as 00123; verify dates and numeric results too. Return to the .ods or .xlsx working copy for further spreadsheet editing.
A CSV contains data from the active sheet only. It does not preserve other sheets, cell formatting or charts. The export can contain formula results or formula text, but it does not preserve a working workbook with its formula relationships; keep the .ods or .xlsx copy.
Save cell content as shown exports the displayed values, including number and date formats. Check it deliberately: displayed decimals may be rounded and a date’s displayed order may differ from what the receiving system expects.
For dates that must become date values, choose the appropriate Date column type and check Locale and the intended day/month order. An entry such as 03/04/2026 is ambiguous without that context.
Changing a damaged ID to Text after import cannot restore zeros that were already removed. Reopen the original CSV and set the column to Text before importing. CSV does not store column types, so recipients must also import IDs as text.
If the preview puts an entire row in one column, recheck the separator. If Arabic letters appear as garbled symbols, recheck the character set before saving over any file.
Did this guide help?
Your feedback is stored in this browser only.Still looking for an answer?
Contact the support team from your account and follow your request in the portal.