Import a time CSV without changing its meaning
Preserve identifiers, dates, duration types and original source data.
Keep the original CSV untouched and import with explicit column types. Check identity, dates and duration units before trusting a spreadsheet total.
Preserve a source copy before opening the file
Save the original export with a batch identity and record its report settings. Work on a copy. Opening and saving through a spreadsheet can change how dates, numbers or codes are represented. A file that looks normal afterward may no longer contain the same strings. Record the row count and one known duration before importing so you have a simple comparison.
Choose types according to meaning
Use text for identifiers such as 00042, an agreed date interpretation for dates, and one explicitly named unit for durations. Microsoft documents Text/CSV import controls for column conversion and delimiters. Inspect the preview before loading. Do not rely on a custom display format to repair a code whose original zeros or digits have already been lost.
Separate elapsed time from time of day
A fictional total of 27 hours can display as 03:00 when formatted as a clock time. In desktop Excel, an elapsed-hour format such as [h]:mm preserves the accumulated hours in the display. Decimal hours are different: 1.5 represents 90 minutes, while 1:30 is an hours-and-minutes notation. Establish which value the recipient expects before multiplying or dividing by 24 or 60.
Validate a small set before processing everything
Check a leading-zero ID, a date whose day is greater than 12, a duration over 24 hours, a blank optional field and a label containing a delimiter. Compare values with the original text. If any case changes meaning, correct the import configuration and reload from the untouched source. Do not manually patch hundreds of rows whose conversion rule remains unknown.
Continue this work-record check
Use the linked guide for the next decision in this workflow. Keep your original records separate from experiments and record any unresolved requirement before changing a live process.
Sources and boundaries
Primary documentation supports the dated product facts. Proposed checks and fictional examples are our editorial method, not observed product results.
- Microsoft — import · checked September 23, 2026
- Microsoft — time · checked September 23, 2026