CSV is the format everything exports to and nothing enjoys editing. Rixoffice makes it tolerable: .csv files open straight into the RixSheets grid, where you get real columns, filtering, formulas and formatting instead of a wall of commas — and you can save back to CSV or convert to .xlsx whenever you are ready.
Opening a CSV file
Open the file from the Home screen, with Ctrl+O (Cmd+O on Mac) or by double-clicking it. RixSheets parses the text into rows and columns as it loads. If the result looks wrong — everything in one column, or garbage characters where accents should be — the import options let you fix it:
- Delimiter — choose comma, semicolon, tab, pipe or a custom character. European exports often use semicolons; choosing the right one splits the columns correctly.
- Encoding — pick UTF-8 or another text encoding so names, currencies and symbols display properly.
- First row — treat the first line as a header so sorting and filtering behave.
Once open, the data behaves like any spreadsheet: sort, filter, search, format and compute as needed.
CSV versus XLSX in one look
| CSV | XLSX | |
|---|---|---|
| Stores formulas | No, plain values only | Yes, formulas stay live |
| Multiple sheets | No | Yes |
| Cell formatting | No | Yes |
| Opens anywhere | Yes, universal | Yes, standard Office format |
| Best for | Data exchange between systems | Working files and reports |
Editing CSV data
Everything in RixSheets works on an open CSV: typing fixes directly into cells, filling down, sorting, filtering, conditional formatting for spotting outliers, and formulas for quick checks. RixSheets AI is unlimited on every plan, so you can ask for a summary, a cleanup rule or a formula without spending credits.
Two habits save headaches with CSV work:
- Keep the original untouched. Work on a copy when the file feeds another system, so a stray sort cannot corrupt the source.
- Convert once, work long. If a dataset is yours to keep, save it as .xlsx immediately — formulas, multiple sheets and formatting then survive every save, as described in the XLSX guide.
Saving and converting
- Save back to CSV with Ctrl+S when the file must stay plain text — RixSheets writes the delimiter and quoting correctly.
- Convert to XLSX with File, Save As and the .xlsx type; the Rust engine writes a standard workbook.
- Share a snapshot with File, Export as PDF for people who need to read, not edit.
- Round-trip with other tools — the saved CSV re-imports cleanly into databases, accounting systems and scripts.
Because CSV carries no formatting, saving is lossless by nature: values go in, values come out, with quoting handled for commas, quotes and line breaks inside cells.
Common CSV tasks in Rixoffice
- Clean a system export before import: trim spaces, fix dates, drop empty columns.
- Merge a monthly export with a running workbook, then keep the combined .xlsx.
- Check a file before handing it to another department by exporting a PDF preview.
- Use AI to explain what a mystery column contains or to draft the formula you need.
What to explore next
- Importing CSV and XLSX covers import options in depth.
- RixSheets getting started tours formulas, filters and pivot tables.
- The byte-preserving engine explains how the suite writes files it does not fully own.