How to Save an Excel Spreadsheet in a Fixed Length
By Greg Lindberg
Fixed-length files are a type of exported and imported file extension to define code within an application. An example is when you have data on your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that contain fields that are all the same length. You can then save and convert the entire file into a fixed-length file use it can be used in specific analysis systems. Once you’ve converted the file, you will have a new Excel file with a .PRN extension.
Step 1
Open the Excel file on your computer that you want save with a fixed length. Look over the data and make sure it is recorded how you want it.
Step 2
Highlight all of the data fields with your mouse. Right-click with your mouse and then click on the “Column Width” option.
Step 3
Type in the number of spaces that you want the fixed width to be. An example is to type in 15 in the “Column Width” field and then click the “OK” button. All columns will then change to the same fixed width.
Step 4
Click on the “File” option and then click on the “Save As” option. Determine where you want to save the file now and the name you want to give it in the “File name” field.
Step 5
Click on the drop-down menu in the “Save as type” field and click on the “Format Text (Space delimited)(*.prn)” option. Click on the “Save” button, and then click on the “OK” button in the pop-up that appears.
Step 6
Click the “Yes” button in the next pop-up to verify that you want the file exported. You file will be converted and saved in a fixed length.
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