How to bypass the Text Import Wizard when you import files in Excel

This step-by-step article describes how to bypass the Text Import Wizard when you import files in Microsoft Excel 2000.

When you import text files into Excel 2000, the Text Import Wizard may automatically appear and display the first line as shown when using the default parse line. You can bypass the Text Import Wizard and accept the defaults by holding down the SHIFT key when you open the file.

Import Text Without the Import Wizard

If the files that you import into Microsoft Excel are always parsed correctly when you open them, you may not want to use the Text Import Wizard during the import process. To prevent the Text Import Wizard from appearing when you import a file, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Open.
2. Locate and select the file that you want from the list.
3. Hold down the SHIFT key, and then click Open.

This technique is especially helpful when used with files such as tab-delimited text (.txt) files.

Note The Text Import Wizard is not displayed when you open an ANSI text file with a .csv extension (comma-separated value files). Instead, the ANSI text file is parsed into separate columns, using commas as delimiters. If you want the Text Import Wizard to be displayed for files with a .csv extension, rename the text file so that its file name extension is .txt.