creating .csv file with numeric value

[Dennis Malen]

My problem is as follows:

I created an export file which is a comma delimited and the processing then
adds the extension .csv

This is created on a unix box and then ftp'd to windows.

Once I double click on the file in windows it is automatically loaded into
excel perfectly. This is not the problem.

PROBLEM

One of the columns is a social security number. Some of the numbers have a
leading zero (0) before it was loaded. Because all of the columns in Excel
are defined as "general" as opposed to "text", the leading zero(0) is
deleted when it is loaded.

Does anyone know how to solve this problem without having to manually import
the file into excel and manually change the definition of the file from
"general" to "text".

If the column is defined as "text" then the leading zero (0) is retained.

Dennis Malen
516.479.5912