Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Calling all Data Engineers! Fabric Data Engineer (Exam DP-700) live sessions are back! Starting October 16th. Sign up.

Reply
quinncallan
New Member

Unable to properly export special characters to .csv

Hi Guys

 

When i export a report from Power BI to excel it does not correctly export the special characters, e.g. Životná is exported as Životná

 

I have a feeling it is something to do with exporting to .csv....is this the case? any work around?

 

Duane

3 REPLIES 3
morph268
Microsoft Employee
Microsoft Employee

This is because Excel by default open a CSV file as text file.

 

As a workaround, you can do the following:

1. Open Excel
2. Import the data using Data-->Import External Data --> Import Data
3. Select the file type of "csv" and browse to your file 
4. Change the Delimiter to comma
5. Select where to import to and Finish
6. You can go ahead and remove separator instruction.

 

https://help.tune.com/marketing-console/how-to-import-a-unicode-csv-to-excel/

 

 

 

 

Power BI desktop is generationg CSV using UTF-8 encoding with , as the separator and Excel is by default using ANSI encoding and the separator defined at Control Panel / Region and Language / Advance Settings / List separator (you may need to change it to , )

 

Using the Import Wizard of Excel let you choose the encoding (you have to select UTF-8 at nearly the end of the list) 

 

Problem with the Import Wizard is that Line Feed (cariage return) will screw your data.

The Wizard is not able to deal with them.

 

 

and of course you can save-as XLSX after the import; so you don't have to keep repeating yourself

Helpful resources

Announcements
FabCon Global Hackathon Carousel

FabCon Global Hackathon

Join the Fabric FabCon Global Hackathon—running virtually through Nov 3. Open to all skill levels. $10,000 in prizes!

September Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - September 2025

Check out the September 2025 Power BI update to learn about new features.

FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.

Top Solution Authors
Top Kudoed Authors