How to convert csv files encoding to utf-8

Question

Is it possible to convert csv data that has iso-8859-13 encoding to UTF-8?

My old system does not have UTF-8 encoding, it uses only iso-8859-13. The system that I need to import to does not have iso-8859-13, but has both UTF-8 and UTF-16. If I try to open the csv file with an encoding other than iso-8859-13, then some symbols are not recognized. If I try to import such file into the new system, it gives an error that I have wrong encoding. I can only import it using windows-1252, but then it will import with unrecognized symbols. What can I do to convert it to normal encoding such as UTF-8?

Antechamber

Answer 1

I was able to convert simply using text editor. I opened csv file with iso-8859-13 encoding. Then created empty csv file with utf-8. Then simply copied everything from one csv to another. Then I could import it into new system.

Previously I tried to do this with libreoffice, but for some reason it would save with iso-8859-13 encoding.

Antechamber

One side note: This worked as expected but I made a mistake of saving the file to CSV again. This totally messed up my file :) One should probably save it to some binary format (e.g. xlsx) in order to retain changes ;) – Marcel

The same process will work in Linux using Kate and/or Kwrite as the editor rather than Notepad or Notepad++ from Windows. – Throat

Answer 2

Open the file in Notepad++ and click Encoding->Convert to UTF-8.

(Do not click Encode in UTF-8 because it won't actually convert the characters.)

Vday

made my half-day. the other half I spent searching – Goebel

I had to do "Convert to UTF-8-BOM" – Aldred

I did first "Convert to UTF-8-BOM" and then "Convert to UTF-8". This saved my umlauts – Shoffner

you saved my life 10 years later in the future bro, thank you a lot for the simple guide, it worked! – Fey

Answer 3

For those who don't know how to convert the file's encoding using Notepad++ : Create a new file in Notepad++ -> Go to Encoding -> Encode in UTF-8 -> Copy-paste the contents -> save the file as .csv

Goeger

Answer 4

For me worked that way: Open CSV file with regular Notepad. Save as in Notepad and set encoding like in picture.Encoding

Dickdicken

Answer 5

Copying .csv content from Excel to Notepad++ does not preserve format, open original .csv in Notepad++ and copy from there.

1. Once opened in Notepad++, create new file in Notepad++ using 'Ctrl + n'.
2. Go to Encoding -> Convert to UTF-8-BOM -> Copy-paste the contents -> save the file as .csv.

(Windows 10)

Adams

Answer 6

I opened my file in MS Notepad, and then the File > Save As menu would let me choose the encoding.

Palette