Export CSV for Excel

Question

I\'m writing a CSV file in PHP using fputcsv($file, $data). It all works, however I can\'t just open it in Excel but have to import it and specify the encoding

Answer 1

Despite the "C=comma" in CVS, Excel uses your locale native separator. So supposing fputcsv always uses a comma, it won't work, if your locale separator is for example a semicolon.

What Google AdSense does, when you click "Export to Excel CSV", is that it uses Tab as a separator. And that works.

To replicate that, set the third parameter (delimiter) of fputcsv to override the default comma. E.g. for Tab use: fputcsv($handle, $fields, "\t");

Compare the format of the CSV that works for you against the one generated by fputcsv.

Consider including example of both in your question. You might get better answers.