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"SYLK: File format is not valid" Error Message

When attempting to open my .CSV file I get an error message that reads "SYLK: File format is not valid."  How can I access this file? 

Official response from

This is a Microsoft generated error that occurs when you open a text file or CSV file and the first two characters of the file are the uppercase letters "I" and "D". For example, the text file may contain the following text:

 

ID, STATUS

123, open

456, closed

 

Note This problem does not occur if the first two letters are lowercase "i" and "d".

 

You can resolve this issue by inserting an apostrophe at the beginning of the first line of text.

 

To add an apostrophe to the beginning of the first line of text in your file, follow these steps:

  1. Open the text file in a text editor, such as Notepad. Click before the first character in the first line of text. Press the APOSTROPHE key on your keyboard (').
  2. On the File menu, click Save. Quit the text editor. You can now open the file in Excel!
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