Editing CSV tables in QGIS

Question

I am trying to join a CSV table to a shapefile in QGIS 2.12.0. I have exported a table from Excel to CSV format, but when opening the table I noticed that my unique ID field in Excel is in text format, is changed to number in QGIS. Since my shapefile has that same ID field as a text string I cannot join them. I have tried to change the format to string but it does not let me. Does anyone know how to do this?

Perhaps this post might help: Changing CSV layer attribute value from text to number in QGIS? — Joseph, Feb 18 '16 at 15:46
create a csvt file. more infos here: http://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/45005/why-are-some-columns-not-recognized-as-numeric-even-though-i-have-a-csvt — Kurt, Feb 18 '16 at 19:18

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 11 '16 at 09:48

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You can use the Field Calculator (open the Attribute Table, then Ctrl + I) to convert numbers to strings. The following command should do the job :

 tostring( "ID" )

(replace ID with the actual name of your ID field).

edited Mar 11 '16 at 09:48

wittich

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answered Feb 18 '16 at 15:44

ArMoraer

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Make sure there are no spaces or other "notnumbers" in your fields when doing it the other way around with to_int or to_real. – Papierwolf Feb 18 '16 at 16:01

SpatialSuccess · Answer 2 · 2016-02-19T10:41:03.420

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Use the add spreadsheet layer plugin to bring in the CSV. You can then set the field types on import.

edited Feb 19 '16 at 10:41

answered Feb 18 '16 at 22:41

SpatialSuccess

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Thanks! Now I know several methods to tackle this problem. – Armando Anaya Feb 20 '16 at 02:17

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 18 '16 at 23:18

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Use the .csvt technic. Check this short tutorial: http://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/performing_table_joins.html?highlight=csvt

answered Feb 18 '16 at 23:18

sig_renato

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Editing CSV tables in QGIS

3 Answers3