PROBLEM

Tab delimited text file tables do not display correctly in ArcCatalog or ArcMap

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Description

When a table for a tab delimited text file is opened in ArcMap or ArcCatalog, the data is not correctly entered into columns.

Cause

ArcMap and ArcCatalog interpret files with a .txt, .csv, or .asc extension as comma delimited by default. Files that have a .tab extension are interpreted as tab delimited by default.

Solution or Workaround

Select an option below.

  • Change the extension on all tab delimited text files to .tab.

    Right-click the file in Windows Explorer and select Rename.

  • Modify the schema.ini. This file determines how to read delimited text files.

    Note:
    For more information on modifying the schema.ini see Accessing delimited text file data

Article ID: 000002961

Software:
  • ArcMap

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