.xls versus .csv

[bayoemonami]

Hi I'm very new to SugarCRM, and now having problem with it. Basically is it possible to import database into SugarCRM using .xls extension instead of .csv? I know we can import with Tab Separated Value format, but when I export out from SugarCRM, is it possible the database in .xls format?

The reason is simple, when I’m updating the database in excel, I can put information such as:
Telephone: 6759.0000; or
Postal Code: 073813

But when I save the file as .csv they all become:
Telephone: 6759
Postal Code: 73813

I notice that the feature in .csv is different than in ..xls, so it may cause this thing to happen.

This issue also happen when I export the list out of SugarCRM (by default it is .csv). So, even if I uploaded the database using Tab Separated Value, and managed to get all the ‘zero’, still when I export them out, they become messy. Is this the default setting?

Kindly please advise. Thank you.

[kuske]

As SugarCRM is a software which should run even in non Windows environments, the import of xls-files could be very difficult.

I learned that this 0-trunc-issue depends from your personal excel installation.
In my 2003 excel I did not have any problems.

So if you have to import great amount of data from xls I would recommend to use one of the ETL-tools, like talnd open studio.
This tool knows different file types and is able to import to sugar.