How to convert binary text file from Windows

marie@dk · 10-10-2005, 04:10 AM

I just got a *.csv file from a colleage who is using windows. She uploaded the file to a webpage, and I downloaded it via http.
For some reason, the file is binary and open office can't open it ... Is there some way to convert it to ascii?

cardy · 10-10-2005, 06:05 AM

The file can't be binary and text. I would guess the file is a binary file and has not been exported correctly.

You can try to use the command file which will attempt to identify what format the file uses.

Code:

 file  myfile.csv

if its a text file you should get back something like

Code:

myfile.csv: ASCII English text, with CRLF line terminators

The with CRLF line terminators indicates that its a text file saved in the format windows uses. Windows stores lines of text that end in a Carridge Return and then a Line Feed Charicter. Unix & linux uses a Line Feed charicter only.

marie@dk · 10-12-2005, 03:17 AM

Thanks :-)

I'm sure you are right about the file not being exported correctly... I just assumed it was a windows -> linux problem. But I later discovered that I couldn't open it in windows either.