CSV encoding: UTF-8, BOM and Excel
Prevent broken characters across spreadsheet apps.
What matters
UTF-8 is the safest general exchange encoding. A UTF-8 BOM can help some spreadsheet versions recognize it, while CP949 may appear in older Korean workflows. Test a small round trip before replacing a production export.
A safe workflow
- Keep the source unchanged.
- Test on a representative copy.
- Review the output for meaning, not only file size or a green status.
- Record the settings that worked.
Common mistake
Automation can make a wrong assumption repeat faster. Confirm encoding, units, schema meaning or visual quality before applying a result broadly.