How to Create a Contact List in Office Spreadsheet
By Brian May
Microsoft Excel, introduced in the 1980s, helps businesses manage and analyze data in digital spreadsheets. It's part of the Microsoft Office suite. You can also use Excel to maintain personal information such as contact lists. Many personal information managers require a specific format for contact lists before users can import the information. If you enter your contact information into an Excel spreadsheet in a specific order and save it as a comma-separated value file, you can pull your Excel contact list into other programs.
Step 1
Start a new spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. Go to the "File" menu at the top of the window and select "New" from the drop-down menu. You will use this new blank spreadsheet to enter your contact information.
Step 2
Click on the cell in the first row and first column of the spreadsheet. Use this top row to enter the categories for your contact information. In the first cell, enter a category for your contact information, such as "Name," "Company," "Address," "Cell Phone" or "Email." Continue entering a category in each cell across this top row until you have listed all the categories you need for your contacts.
Step 3
Fill the next row beneath your row of categories with information about your first contact, matching the information to the category in the top row. Continue filling out each row like this until you have entered your entire contact list.
Step 4
Click the "File" menu at the top of the screen and select "Save As" from the drop-down menu. Enter a title for your contact list and click "Save" to save your list in Excel's standard format in case you need to revise it later within Excel.
Step 5
Repeat Step 4. This time, before clicking "Save," select the "CSV" extension under the "File Type" or "Format" drop-down box. Saving a copy of your contact list in the comma-separated value format will allow you to import it into other applications, such as Microsoft Outlook.
References
Tips
- You can alphabetize or sort your contact information within your Excel contact list by highlighting all the data you wish to sort, clicking the "Data" menu, and selecting "Sort."
Writer Bio
A native Texan, Brian May started his career as a professional freelance writer in 2010. He reviews albums for the website Look Listen Play and has written three full-length plays. May holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Dartmouth College.