Open and edit CSV tables on iPhone or iPad

Before you start

A readable CSV and a backup of important source data.
Know whether the source uses commas, semicolons, or tabs. Request a UTF-8 export if text encoding causes problems.
Start with a modest table and check that large-file lightweight mode has not disabled table preview.

Open CSV in table mode
Select the file and switch to table mode from the file menu. Return to CSV source to inspect literal delimiters, quotes, or line breaks.
Check the delimiter and header
If everything appears in one column, choose the source delimiter in Table Operations. Enable First Row as Header only when appropriate for the data.
Edit cells and rows
Tap the intended cell to change it. Add rows or columns, or use Table Operations to organize the table. Clear row filters before checking the complete result.
Save to a writable destination
Save writes back when permitted. Use Save As to preserve the original or work around a read-only source. Confirm you are editing the intended file.
Check the receiving app
Reopen the CSV and inspect row count, columns, non-English text, commas, and quotes. Test the delivery copy in its receiving app, especially IDs with leading zeros, dates, and long numbers.

CSV

name,quantity,note
Pen,2,"blue, fine tip"
Notebook,1,"A5 size"

Expect 3 columns, 1 header row, and 2 data rows. The comma in blue, fine tip is part of one quoted field.

Reopen the saved CSV, verify all rows and key fields, and check parsing in the app that will consume the file.

CSV is delimited text. It does not retain Excel workbook sheets, calculated formulas, merged cells, or formatting.
Apps differ in delimiter, encoding, number, and date interpretation. Check the file in the actual receiving app.
Lightweight mode and device memory can limit table features. A partial preview is not proof that all data is visible.

Check for a semicolon or tab delimiter and make sure fields containing delimiters are quoted correctly.

Request a UTF-8 CSV export from the source and keep the original. Avoid overwriting important data while the encoding problem remains.

Clear filters, inspect source quotes and embedded line breaks, check lightweight mode, and reopen the saved file.

This workflow edits CSV cells. Office workbooks mainly have read-only previews in PatchDoc; export a CSV copy from the source app if needed.

Quote the CSV field and escape literal quotes by doubling them. Switch back to table mode and verify the column count.

Instructions reflect the reviewed feature set. Control placement may vary by version.