numbers with trailing 0 don't format in csv export

[stevieflow]

This isn't strictly a bug or the fault of IATI Tables - but wanted to log and see if there may be a way around it

Example

Some publishers have poorly constructed organisation references in their data, that start with a 0 or three:

Example activity:

In tables datasette, this is as published:

If I then download the CSV for that query, the 0010 opens as 10

I know this is a spreadsheet issue - but wondered if there is anything that can be done in the export file?

Note - whilst this org reference is invalid it is useful to work with and analyse, to then give feedback

[robredpath]

This is actually correct in the CSV, so this is a result of spreadsheet software interpreting 00010 as a number. How silly of it!

Is there anything we can do to make the CSV give better hints about how to treat this column? Or offer xlsx ?

I feel like this is something that asking around the co-op would get lots of useful experience and stories around!

[tillywoodfield]

@stevieflow are you using Google Sheets to view the file? Instead of opening the file directly, if you create a new sheet and then go File -> Import and select the file, you can untick "Convert text to numbers, dates and formulas". I would imagine other tools have some similar option as well

[stevieflow]

thanks @robredpath @tillywoodfield yeah, it's something to work with/around

Ill try that too @tillywoodfield

I guess this might be more of a documentation issue, eventually @robredpath ?

[tillywoodfield]

@stevieflow @robredpath I've added this to the IATI Tables Docs, are you happy for us to close the issue?

[stevieflow]

Excellent, thanks @tillywoodfield !