Want to do the opposite? Convert CSV to TXT here.
Options
Paste text that has columns and get a clean CSV file as you type. The separator is detected for you, whether your text uses tabs, commas, semicolons, pipes, or columns lined up with spaces, like a report or command output. Database tables with +----+ borders and Markdown tables are handled too. Check the Table tab to confirm every value landed in the right column, then copy the CSV or download it for Excel, Google Sheets, or a database import. Everything runs in your browser.
How to convert TXT to CSV
- Paste your text into the left pane, or open a .txt file.
- The CSV appears on the right, and the status line shows which separator was detected.
- Open the Table tab to check the columns. If something is off, pick the separator yourself or set Max columns.
- Click Copy or Download .csv.
Separators the tool understands
| Your text looks like | Separator | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Ana Designer Austin copied from Excel or Google Sheets | Tab | The most reliable format, since values rarely contain tabs |
| 17 | Maya Chen | Austin | | Pipe | Outer pipes and border lines like +----+ or |---| are removed |
17;"Chen, Maya";Austin | Semicolon or comma | Quoted values can contain the separator |
| Values lined up in columns with spaces | Aligned columns | Works out where each column starts, so values like New York stay in one cell and blank cells stay blank |
17 maya Austin | Spaces | Any run of spaces separates values. Use Max columns to keep the rest of a line together. |
| A list with one item per line | One value per line | Makes a single-column CSV |
Anything else, like :: or ~ | Custom | Type the exact characters that separate values |
Fixing common problems
- Too many columns: when the last column holds free text, like a log message or a description, set Max columns. Everything past that column is kept together in the last one.
- Short rows: rows with fewer values than the rest are filled with empty cells so every row has the same number of columns. The status line tells you which lines were short.
- Titles and notes above the data: use Skip first lines, or Skip lines starting with for comments like
#. - Excel drops leading zeros: ZIP codes, phone numbers, and IDs like 00123 lose their zeros when Excel opens a CSV. Turn on Keep leading zeros in Excel to protect them.
- Accented letters look wrong in Excel: turn on Add BOM to download. It tells Excel the file is UTF-8.
- Excel puts everything in column A: in many European locales Excel expects semicolons. Set CSV separator to Semicolon.
What makes a valid CSV
CSV files follow a simple set of rules, written down in RFC 4180. Each record is on its own line, values are separated by commas, and any value that contains a comma, a double quote, or a line break is wrapped in double quotes, with quotes inside it doubled, so Say "hi" becomes "Say ""hi""". This tool applies those rules for you, so values with commas or quotes never spill into the next column.
Frequently asked questions
How does it know what separates my columns?
It tests tabs, pipes, semicolons, and commas on the first lines of your text and picks the one that gives the same number of columns on the most lines. If none fits, it looks for columns lined up with spaces. The status line shows what it picked, and you can choose a different separator anytime.
My values contain spaces. Will they be split apart?
Not with Aligned columns, which uses each column's position instead of splitting at every space. If your text isn't lined up, set Max columns so the last column keeps its spaces.
Can it convert output from MySQL, psql, or a Markdown table?
Yes. Pipe tables are detected, the border lines are skipped, and the outer pipes are removed.
Will Excel open the file correctly?
Yes. For accented letters, turn on Add BOM to download. If Excel puts everything in one column, switch the CSV separator to Semicolon. Turn on Keep leading zeros in Excel to protect values like 00123.
What happens to rows with missing values?
They're filled with empty cells at the end so every row has the same number of columns, and the lines are listed under the panes. Turn off Fill short rows to leave them as they are.
Is there a size limit?
No set limit. Files of tens of megabytes work, depending on your device's memory. The Table tab shows the first 500 rows, and the CSV includes everything.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion happens in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.