CSV decimal dot in Excel

Question

I have a CSV file with the following values:

3271.96;274;272;1;1;0;1;0.071690;0;0;0;0;0;0;1.753130;1.75;0;1.75; 

But when I open the file with Excel I get this:

3271.96 274 272 1   1   0   1   0.071690    0   0   0   0   0   0   1.753.130   1.75    0   1.75 

Why is "1.753130" converted into "1.753.130"? (1.753130 is a decimal number) how can I "force" Excel to understand that these are decimal numbers?

I create the CSV file with a web application, so is difficult just modify my Excel configuration because many people visit my website and download the CSV file to their machines.

Answer 1

For users seeking to this question with newer Excel versions like Excel 365... As written at Professor Excel you could activate/restore "From Text (Legacy)" in the settings.

My prefered solution

File - Options - Data 

Then you will be able to get the old import wizard... legacy but in my opinion more intuitiv.

Other possibilities

At that linked Professor Excel website there are also shown other possibilities. With Excels new import dialog, if you have several columns with numbers all in a different locale to your computers locale settings, then it will be much more effort to do the import. With the old wizard you are set within a minute. With the new import dialog I haven't found yet a method to be as fast as with the legacy import method.