Data Import & Export

How to Put CSV Services on Separate Lines in One Excel Cell

Steve K Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to display multiple imported CSV services on separate lines within a single cell, resolving issues where rectangle symbols appear instead of line breaks.

How to Put CSV Services on Separate Lines in One Excel Cell

Product: Spreadsheet
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Importing CSV data containing multiple services per cell where line breaks fail to render properly.
Observed behavior: The imported data displays multiple services in one cell separated by rectangle symbols instead of proper line breaks.

Before you start

Ensure your spreadsheet cells are set to 'Wrap Text', as line breaks will not be visible within a cell unless this formatting option is active.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Find and Replace to Insert Line Breaks

You can replace the non-printing characters (the rectangle symbols) with actual line breaks using the Find and Replace dialog.

This method directly targets the unrecognized characters generated during the CSV import and swaps them for native carriage returns.

Copy the non-printing character

Double-click the cell containing the imported data and copy the rectangle symbol.

Open Find and Replace

Select the cells you want to fix, then press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog box.

Configure the replacement

Paste the rectangle symbol into the 'Find what' field. Click into the 'Replace with' field and press Ctrl + J to insert a line break.

Apply changes

Click 'Replace All'. Ensure that the 'Wrap Text' option in the Home tab is turned on to see the multiple lines properly.

Use Find and Replace to Insert Line Breaks

Check Wrap Text: If the data still looks like it's on a single line after replacing, check the Home ribbon and click 'Wrap Text' to reveal the line breaks.

Solution 2

Use Text to Columns to Separate Data

If you prefer the services to be placed in separate adjacent columns rather than one cell, use the Text to Columns feature.

Solution 3

Use the SUBSTITUTE Function

You can use a formula to clean the data by replacing the non-printing character with the CHAR(10) line break code.

Efficiently Format Imported CSV Data in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet offers powerful data handling capabilities to quickly resolve layout issues from CSV imports. Using its advanced Find & Replace and formatting tools, you can seamlessly organize your data.

1. Import CSV Data: Open WPS Spreadsheet, go to the Data tab, and use 'Import Data' to bring in your CSV file.
2. Access Find and Replace: Highlight the affected cells and press Ctrl + H to bring up the Find and Replace menu.
3. Insert Line Breaks: Paste the rectangle symbol in 'Find what', press Ctrl + J in 'Replace with', and click 'Replace All'.
4. Wrap Text: Navigate to the Home tab and click 'Wrap Text' to finalize the multi-line layout.

Easily import and clean messy CSV data without risking data loss.Advanced Find and Replace fully supports line breaks and non-printing characters.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats including XLSX and CSV.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do rectangle symbols appear in my imported CSV data?

Rectangle symbols typically appear when a CSV file contains non-printing characters, such as carriage returns or line breaks from a different operating system, that the spreadsheet software cannot interpret or display using the current font.

How do I type a line break in the Find and Replace box?

To insert a line break into the 'Replace with' field, simply click inside the text box and press Ctrl + J on your keyboard. You will see a small blinking dot indicating the line break has been successfully added.

Why aren't my cells showing separate lines after inserting line breaks?

Even if the line breaks are properly inserted into the text, they won't be visually rendered unless the 'Wrap Text' feature is enabled. You must select the cells and click 'Wrap Text' in the Home tab.

How can I figure out what non-printing character is in my cell?

You can isolate the character using formulas like MID or RIGHT to extract it, and then use the CODE function (e.g., =CODE(B1)) to find its numerical ASCII value. Common values are 10 (Line Feed) and 13 (Carriage Return).

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