Does anyone have any tips on maintaining the leading Zeros in database sorts for VIPP jobs? We convert our CASS data sort to a CSV file format using Excel then convert the CSV file to a sorted DBF format using a Perl command script to sort for multi-up use in VIPP IDE. Even after fixing the dropped zeros in the CSV file using Excel, the zeros are still dropping when we resave to CSV or as a delimited text file. Any suggestions?

I don't remember all the details with this but , I can tell you you should not edit CSV files unless you have no choice, you'll just run into problems do this. If I remember correctly you need to Format your original Excel document (maybe something like changing from text or numbers to scientific or maybe just changing to text instead of numbers?) I can get you the answer, I'll look into it today and get back to you... I'm not sure of the last sets you have """ convert the CSV file to a sorted DBF format using a Perl command script to sort for multi-up use in VIPP IDE "", we do not do anything like this. I have seen the zero issue several times and it is always realated to the operator forgetting to deal with the zeros...


\Dale

With leading Zero's format the cell as Special and choose zipcode or Custom and set to "00000" five digit number, you could also set colume to text. It seams this needs to be set any time the csv file is open in excel after saving as csv I have opened files with text editers such as BBedit and notepad to check that the "0" has been maintained

HTH
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Craig

Craig & Dale,
Thanks for the info. We tested without editing the CSV file and the lead zero's were maintained. We will have to adjust the file to put the zeros back in if we find it necessary to edit the CSV file down the line.

Thanks for your help

Tracey