Free online 123 to CSV converter

A modern spreadsheet, database, or import tool may not open a legacy Lotus 1-2-3 workbook, while CSV is accepted by most data-processing applications. Converting the workbook creates a smaller, editable text file for sharing, archiving, or importing tabular data.

What the 123 format is

.123 is a spreadsheet file format associated with Lotus 1-2-3, an office application used for worksheets, calculations, charts, and tabular records. These files occur mainly in legacy business archives and documents created by Lotus 1-2-3 or compatible spreadsheet software.

A workbook can contain formulas, formatting, charts, and more than one worksheet. Those features are not represented in a CSV file.

What the CSV format is

CSV (comma-separated values) is a plain-text format for tabular data. Each line represents a row, and fields are separated by a delimiter, usually a comma. Spreadsheet programs, databases, reporting systems, programming languages, and data-import tools support CSV.

CSV stores cell contents, not workbook presentation. It does not preserve formatting, charts, images, cell colors, worksheet structure, or formulas as editable formulas. A conversion is appropriate when the destination needs one flat table of rows and columns.

How to convert a 123 file to CSV

Using the 101convert.com converter

1. Open the 123-to-CSV converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the .123 file.
3. Start the conversion and wait for processing to finish.
4. Download the resulting .csv file.
5. Open the CSV in a spreadsheet or text editor and verify its rows, columns, dates, and character encoding.

This option requires no installation and is available for free. Do not upload confidential or regulated data unless the service's data-handling terms satisfy your requirements.

Using LibreOffice Calc

1. Install LibreOffice and open Calc.
2. Choose File → Open, select the .123 file, and choose the Lotus 1-2-3 file type manually if Calc does not detect it.
3. Review the imported worksheet for altered dates, formulas, numeric values, text encoding, and missing content.
4. Choose File → Save As, select Text CSV (.csv), and save the file.
5. In the export dialog, select the delimiter required by the destination, usually a comma, and select UTF-8 when the receiving system expects it.
6. Enable text quoting, normally with double quotation marks, so fields containing delimiters, line breaks, or quotation marks remain valid CSV fields.

Quality and compatibility limits

CSV normally exports only the active worksheet. If the .123 workbook has multiple worksheets, open and export each sheet separately, using a distinct filename for each CSV.

Formulas are commonly exported as their calculated results rather than as formulas that remain editable. Values can also change when an old Lotus format is imported, especially dates, unsupported functions, numeric precision, and formula references. Compare important totals with the original workbook.

Check leading zeros in account numbers, postal codes, and product identifiers; importing these columns as numbers can remove the zeros. Verify negative numbers, decimal separators, date formats, and non-ASCII characters. Regional settings may require a semicolon instead of a comma as the delimiter, so confirm the delimiter expected by the receiving application.

CSV has no universal metadata describing delimiters or encoding. If the target system rejects the file, inspect the export settings and try the required delimiter, line-ending convention, or character encoding before changing the data.