# How can I replace ; with , in an imported excel file and to delete "

I want to import an excel .csv file and ListPlot the data.

file = Import["Desktop/PP_1039.CSV", "Data"]


But I get this data :

(*{{"0.0472;120.9091"}, {"0.0454;113.0303"}, {"0.0441;106.6667"},
{"0.0442;106.6667"}, {"0.0437;103.3333"}, {"0.0425;95.1515"},
{"0.0409;83.6364"}, {"0.0387;72.7273"}, {"0.0354;59.697"},
{"0.0317;45.7576"}, {"0.0275;34.8485"}, {"0.0234;24.8485"},
{"0.0155;12.1212"}, {"0.0115;6.6667"}, {"0.0072;2.7273"},
{"0.0031;2.1212"}}  *)


So I'd like to delete the " and to replace ; with ,

• StringReplace? – Henrik Schumacher Feb 1 '19 at 9:32
• Just be aware that ToExpression (i.e. the answer you accepted) will not handle all number formats that are allowed (and often present) in CSV files, such as 123.4e5. – Szabolcs Feb 1 '19 at 11:50
• You could try importing the file via ReadList[file, Expression] – user170231 Feb 1 '19 at 23:15

ToExpression[StringReplace[ToString[file], ";" -> ","]]


{{0.0472, 120.9091}, {0.0454, 113.0303}, {0.0441, 106.6667}, {0.0442, 106.6667}, {0.0437, 103.3333}, {0.0425, 95.1515}, {0.0409, 83.6364}, {0.0387, 72.7273}, {0.0354, 59.697}, {0.0317, 45.7576}, {0.0275, 34.8485}, {0.0234, 24.8485}, {0.0155, 12.1212}, {0.0115, 6.6667}, {0.0072, 2.7273}, {0.0031, 2.1212}}

Import as Table instead of CSV, and set the "FieldSeparators" option.

ImportString[
"1;2
3;4",
"Table", "FieldSeparators" -> {";"}]

(* {{1, 2}, {3, 4}} *)


"Table" is a generalization of CSV, TSV, etc. where you can customize the delimiters and separators.

ToExpression[file /. {a_String} :> StringSplit[a, ";"]]


Method One: 1) Caution: Make a copy of your original file and then proceed. Just in case it doesn't work. :) 2) Select all the contents in which you need to make the changes. 3) Use "Replace" command to replace whatever with whatever you want. (Replace " with blank space and ; with ,) 4) That it.

Method Two: 1) Caution: Make a copy of your original file and then proceed. Just in case it doesn't work. :) 2) Copy all the contents in Word. It will most probably be imported as a table. 3) Select all the contents in which you need to make the changes. 4) Use "Replace" command to replace whatever with whatever you want. (**Replace " with ***blank space* and ; with ,) 5) Select all the contents from word that are in table and paste it in Excel again.

• In what sense is this solution related to Mathematica? – Henrik Schumacher Feb 2 '19 at 12:42