[ale] importing CSV too much to handle?

[Dow Hurst]

I'd like to know the answer to this one.  I'm sure it is in the docs for 
OOo but I just haven't taken the time to figure it out.  What this is 
about is that OpenOffice.org software doesn't give you a quick and easy 
way to open a text formatted document in the spreadsheet.  You have to 
manually select the file type of CSV formatted text to get the "text" 
import dialog to open.  Then you pick your format type of tabs, spaces, 
or whatever delimiter and the spreadsheet then opens the file right up.  
Since Linux doesn't have to have .xxx type extensions, I think the two 
solutions to fix this problem are:

1. Setup if not already done a menu item for the spreadsheet.  This way 
you get to the Spreadsheet program faster.  It is probably done with a 
command line sequence specifying the spreadsheet window rather than the 
wordprocessor window.  SuSE 8.1 comes with it preconfigured in the 
menus.  Also, check out the fast open OOo utility now available.

2. Openoffice.org might have file extension associations or default 
behavior for certain magic numbers file types (the better way to 
classify files anyway).  If it is possible to have the spreadsheet 
associate a text file as requiring the text import dialog since it would 
be associated as a CSV format for all text files, then the problem would 
be solved.  I wonder if KDE file type associations for Konqueror could 
take care of this with the right command line string to be passed when a 
text format is selected.

3.  Post this on the Openoffice.org mailing lists for possible 
resolution.  Most people who use spreadsheets are used to Excel and its 
type behavior.  I know I was pretty frustrated with the default behavior 
for these type files.  Seems pretty asinine to not have the text import 
dialog open up for any text file as the default behavior when opening a 
text file from the spreadsheet window.

Dow



Tzadik Vanderhoof wrote:

>Am I missing something?  When I click on a .CSV file, it automatically opens
>in Excel.  What's hard to handle about that?  Furthermore, if I'm already in
>Excel and I open a .CSV file, the same thing happens.  It's pretty much
>indistinquishable from an .XLS file in the way it acts.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Tzadik Vanderhoof
>Thinq: Learning that Powers Business!
>http://www.thinq.com
>300 E. Lombard St.
>Baltimore, MD 21202
>(410) 727-5112 x1165
>(410) 837-7903 (fax)
>
>
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-- 
__________________________________________________________
Dow Hurst                  Office: 770-499-3428
Systems Support Specialist    Fax: 770-423-6744
1000 Chastain Rd., Bldg. 12
Chemistry Department SC428  Email:dhurst at kennesaw.edu
Kennesaw State University         Dow.Hurst at mindspring.com
Kennesaw, GA 30144
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