IT Log

To convert the character encoding of a CSV file to UTF-8, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Current Encoding:
2. Open the CSV file in an editor like Notepad++ or Excel.

3. Check the encoding settings; Notepad++ can detect it under “Encoding.”

4. Choose a Conversion Tool:

5. Notepad++: Use the “Encoding” menu to convert directly.
6. Excel: Open the CSV, save as UTF-8 under “File > Save As.”

7. Command Line Tools: Use iconv or Python scripts for automated processes.

8. Convert Encoding Using Notepad++:

9. Open your file in Notepad++.
10. Navigate to “Encoding” and select “Detect…” if unsure, then choose the detected encoding.

11. Select “UTF-8” from the Encoding menu and save the file.

12. Use Excel for Conversion:

13. Open the CSV file in Excel.
14. Go to “File > Save As,” choose “CSV UTF-8 (*.csv)” as the format.

15. Save your changes.

16. Command Line with iconv:

17. Open a terminal and run:
    iconv –f original_encoding –t utf–8 file.csv > new_file.csv
    Replace original_encoding with the current encoding (e.g., ISO-8859-1).

18. Verify the Conversion:

19. Ensure no data loss or corruption by opening the converted file in a text editor or application.

By following these steps, you can reliably convert your CSV file to UTF-8 encoding.