Data Import & Export

Fix Missing or Misaligned Data in CSV Exports in Excel

John Wilson Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience missing data, such as job titles and departments, or misaligned columns when opening Microsoft Attack Simulation Training CSV exports.

How to Fix Missing or Misaligned Data in CSV Exports

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening downloaded CSV export files generated by Microsoft Attack Simulation Training.
Observed behavior: The exported data shifts into incorrect columns or displays missing fields due to improper CSV parsing or malformed quotation marks upon direct opening.

Before you start

Ensure you have the original, unmodified CSV file saved locally on your computer before attempting to re-import it, as saving an already misaligned file can permanently corrupt the data structure.

Solution 1Recommended

Import the CSV File via the Data Tab

Instead of double-clicking the CSV file to open it directly, use the built-in Text/CSV import tool to ensure data is parsed into columns accurately.

Opening a CSV file directly can cause spreadsheet applications to misinterpret data formatting, especially if the file contains internal commas that are not properly enclosed in quotes.

Open a Blank Workbook

Launch Excel and create a new, blank workbook. Navigate to the 'Data' tab located on the top ribbon.

Launch the CSV Importer

Click on 'From Text/CSV' (or navigate to 'Get Data' > 'From File' > 'From Text/CSV').

Select the File

Locate your downloaded Attack Simulation Training CSV file on your local drive, select it, and click 'Import'.

Configure Delimiter Settings

In the preview window, ensure the Delimiter drop-down is set to 'Comma'. Verify in the preview pane that the columns are correctly aligned and data is not shifting into incorrect fields.

Load the Data

Click the 'Load' button to place the properly parsed data into your spreadsheet.

Check Quotation Marks: Verify that fields inherently containing commas (such as addresses or complex job titles) are correctly enclosed in double quotation marks in the raw file to prevent them from splitting across multiple columns.

Solution 2

Request Support for Malformed Export Data

If the Text/CSV import method still yields missing departments or job titles, the source export itself may be flawed or timing out during generation.

Open CSV Files Perfectly with WPS Spreadsheet

Effortlessly Import and Manage CSV Data

WPS Spreadsheet offers a highly compatible and intuitive Text Import Wizard that prevents data shifting and properly parses CSV files exported from enterprise systems, ensuring perfectly aligned columns every time.

1. Create a New Workbook: Open WPS Spreadsheet and click to create a new blank workbook.
2. Navigate to Import Options: Go to the 'Data' tab on the ribbon, click 'Import Data', and select 'Import Data' again from the dropdown.
3. Select the Data Source: Choose 'Select Data Source', browse for your CSV file, and proceed to the Text Import Wizard.
4. Finish the Import: Select 'Delimited', check the 'Comma' option, preview your data alignment, and click 'Finish' to load your perfectly formatted data.

Smart CSV delimiter recognition to prevent misaligned columnsFully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .csv, .xls)Lightweight software that quickly processes large data exportsBuilt-in text-to-columns tools for easy data cleanup

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my CSV data shift into the wrong columns?

This usually happens when the data contains internal commas (like in a complex job title or address) but is not enclosed in quotation marks. The spreadsheet interprets the text comma as a column break, shifting the rest of the row to the right.

How can I view the raw CSV data without modifying it?

You can right-click the CSV file and select 'Open with' > 'Notepad' (or any plain text editor). This allows you to see the raw text formatting and check if quotation marks are properly applied around fields with commas.

What should I do if the CSV export takes too long and fails?

If the Microsoft Attack Simulation Training export times out or generates incomplete files with missing departments, try exporting a smaller date range or contact Microsoft Support to report a backend generation failure.

Excel & Data Problems