Re: Differences in Tab Delimited files between PCs and Macs

Posted by BenTupper on Jun 29, 2010; 6:16pm
URL: http://imagej.273.s1.nabble.com/Differences-in-Tab-Delimited-files-between-PCs-and-Macs-tp3687786p3687789.html

Hi,

On Jun 29, 2010, at 2:08 PM, SIMMONS, RICK L [AG/1850] wrote:

> Kevin,
> I don't know if this will help you, but try saving the text file as a
> comma-delineated text file.  Then use a csv extension instead of an  
> xls
> extension.  Or, (if you have difficulty writing text strings to a "csv
> file"), build the file as a comma-delineated text file (using a *.txt
> extension), then rename it to (or copy it to) a *.csv file when you  
> are
> done writing to it.
>
> In Windows, Excel will automatically open a csv file (I don't know  
> about
> the Mac OS).  When the user tries to save the file when exiting Excel,
> they should be asked if they want to "upgrade" the file format to xls
> (or xlsx - or other).
>
> Csv files can also be opened (as worksheets) from within MiniTab.
>

If you are examining these files using text editors, then it certainly  
would be worth checking your fonts.  You might find in your Windows  
editor that the font is automatically fixed-width while in your Mac  
editor you are not using a fixed-width font.  Any editor worth its  
salt will allow you to change the fonts.

Cheers,
ben

> Rick Simmons
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ImageJ Interest Group [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> Kevin Hallock
> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 11:46 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Differences in Tab Delimited files between PCs and Macs
>
> Hi,
>
>    I'm developing a program that needs to function on both Macs and
> PCs.  My current problem is that I'm creating a file for Excel to  
> open,
> but the format is only correct on a PC.
>
>    I'm appending the following string:
>
>    String HemoTotalString = StudentNames + "\t" + HemoAStr + "\t" +
> HemoSStr + "\t" + HemoFStr + "\t" + "Date: " + ExptDate + "\t" +  
> "Time:
> " + ExptTime;
>
>   to a file using the following command:
>
>   IJ.append(HemoTotalString, SavingPath+TodayTeachFileName+".xls");
>
>   When I open the file on a PC, it opens fine with each string in  
> their
> individual rows, but on a Mac, the separation is messed up or
> non-existent.
>
>    Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kevin
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> Dr. Kevin Hallock
> Boston University School of Medicine
> Phone: [phone]
> Fax: [phone]
> Email: [hidden email]
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This e-mail message may contain privileged and/or confidential  
> information, and is intended to be received only by persons entitled  
> to receive such information. If you have received this e-mail in  
> error, please notify the sender immediately. Please delete it and  
> all attachments from any servers, hard drives or any other media.  
> Other use of this e-mail by you is strictly prohibited.
>
>
> All e-mails and attachments sent and received are subject to  
> monitoring, reading and archival by Monsanto, including its  
> subsidiaries. The recipient of this e-mail is solely responsible for  
> checking for the presence of "Viruses" or other "Malware". Monsanto,  
> along with its subsidiaries, accepts no liability for any damage  
> caused by any such code transmitted by or accompanying this e-mail  
> or any attachment.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------