/text/shared/guide/data_dbase2office.xhp databases; text formats text formats; databases importing; tables in text format exporting; spreadsheets to text format Importing and Exporting Data in Text Format If you want to exchange data with a database that does not have an ODBC link and does not allow dBASE import and export, you can use a common text format. Importing Data into $[officename] To exchange data in a text format use the $[officename] Calc import/export filter. Export the desired data from the source database in a text format. The CSV text format is recommended. This format separates data fields by using delimiters such as commas or semi-colons, and separates records by inserting line breaks. Choose File - Open and click the file to import. Select "Text CSV" from the File type combo box. Click Open. The Text Import dialog appears. Decide which data to include from the text document. Once the data is in a $[officename] Calc spreadsheet, you can edit it as needed. Save the data as a $[officename] data source: Save the current $[officename] Calc spreadsheet in dBASE format in the folder of a dBASE database. To do this, choose File - Save As, then select the File type "dBASE" and the folder of the dBASE database. Exporting in CSV Text Format You can export the current $[officename] spreadsheet in a text format which can be read by many other applications. Choose File - Save as. In File type select the filter "Text CSV". Enter a file name and click Save. This opens the Export of text files dialog, in which you can select the character set, field delimiter and text delimiter. Click OK. A warning informs you that only the active sheet was saved.