The Index is provided in four *.csv format files covering the years 1898 to 1924, 1924 to 1949, 1949 to 1983 and 1983 to the present day; a fifth file is provided for the year volume relationship. Guidance is given below for their conversion to Microsoft Excel and Access formats, and similar procedures could possibly apply to other spreadsheet and database programmes. These notes refer to Microsoft Office 97 Professional running in Microsoft Windows XP;other versions of these programmes could differ slightly.
For Microsoft Excel
Unzip your downloaded file.
Start Excel and 'Open' your downloaded file.
On the top toolbar click 'File'
'Save as'
Choose your folder
Save as type - Microsoft Excel Workbook
'Save'
Re-arrange and format as you wish.
For Microsoft Access
Unzip your downloaded file.
Open a new Access database giving it any name you
wish.
On the top toolbar click 'File'
'Get External Data'
'Import'
Files of type - Text Files (*.txt; *.csv; *.tab; *.
asc)
Your downloaded file
'Import'
'Next'
Tick - First Row Contains Field Names
'Next'
'Next'
'Next'
Check - No Primary Key
'Next'
'Finish'
'OK'
'Open'
Re-arrange and format as you wish.