CSV with Number and Slash around numbers updates the data when I open in Excel

Question

I am exporting a CSV file from my data and I have some data which has values like "20 8/1"

When I open the CSV file in Excel it just converts it to "28". If I have "500 500/10" it will turn to "550" (It seems to add up the values 20 + 8/1 = 20 + 8 = 28. 500 + 500/10 = 500 + 50 = 550)

How can I avoid this?

• I am already using double quotes for each cell/column value - that doesnt make any difference.
• I know that we can import the data using "Data" > "Get Data" > "From Text/CSV." but users are not willing to make that effort.
• Another option is to export directly into Excel but that option does not work as CSVs are getting imported to other systems which is not accepting Excel.
• I also understand that I can do something after opening up Excel but till that time data is already converted so looking for an option where CSV itself got fixed up. Is there any way to escape the / or some other idea?

Any help is appreciated, thank you in advance.

Answer 1

If you have control over the export you can change the field to:

="20 8/1"

For example:

123,="20 8/1",456

This should preserve the data 'as is'.