You can easily open or convert a LEDES file into an Excel spreadsheet for easier viewing or analysis. LEDES files are typically pipe-delimited (|) and saved with a .txt file extension, which means they won't automatically open in a readable column format unless imported correctly.
Follow the steps below to open your LEDES file in Excel.
š Step 1: Open Excel
Launch Microsoft Excel.
Open a blank workbook.
šļø Step 2: Import the LEDES File
Go to File > Open > Browse.
In the file selection window:
Set the file type to All Files
Locate and select your
.txtLEDES file.
If prompted, choose Delimited as the file type.
Click Next.
š Tip: LEDES files use the pipe symbol (|) as a delimiter.
āļø Step 3: Select the Delimiter
On the delimiter selection screen:
Check Other.
Enter the pipe symbol (
|).
Click Finish.
Excel will now import the file, displaying the data neatly separated into columns.
ā ļø Important:
Any edits to the field contents must be made directly to the LEDES file to save correctly without causing format issues. Attempting to edit the data in Excel and saving the file will not work.
ā ļø Troubleshooting Tips
ā Data appears in a single column?
Make sure you've selected "Delimited" and entered | as the delimiter.
š§¾ Special characters or garbled text?
Try importing the file using UTF-8 encoding by using Excel's Data > Get Data > From Text/CSV option (available on most newer Excel versions).
āļø Data spilling over into other fields or populating in incorrect fields?
Make sure your LEDES file only uses pipe delimiters where needed. As pipe characters are used as delimiters, you should not use them in the data being entered into any fields. Every line should have a specific number of pipe delimiters; no more, no less. For LEDES 1998B, each line should have 23 pipe delimiters. For LEDES 98BI V2, each line should have 51 delimiters.