Excel csv file, need to protect zeros

Excel 2007

How to put a barcode starting with zeros into excel and save as a csv (comma delimited) file.

When you enter a number into a cell that begins with zeros because you need that number to be recognised by a barcode reader on an EPoS (electronic point of sale) system, the file needs to be saved as a csv comma delimited file with zeros at the beginning of the barcode

When you save the file as csv file, it appears to save correctly and that the EPOS system will therefore recognise it.

However, when you reopen the csv file to edit, ALL the barcodes automatically are converted to numbers without the zeros in front

i.e. barcode = 0001234567
format the cell as TEXT

have tried to unlock and then protect the worksheet (doesn’t seem to make a difference)

save file as .csv (comma delimited)

Attachment 6409

click yes (???????)

close excel

open excel

open .csv file

shows 1234567 in the cell

change to 0001234567

save as .csv

upon re-opening, the zeros are always removed.



What I need to happen is to save the excel file as a csv (comma delimited) and open for editing without having to re-enter 1000’s of barcodes that start with zero.

Is this possible (it must be) and how do I do this?

Please, thank you very much.