Importing data that contains non-ASCII characters

If a file you want to import into Microsoft Dynamics CRM contains characters outside the ASCII character set, here's what you need to know:

When you edit data using Microsoft Office Excel in preparation for saving it as a text file for import, you must save the file as the specific type Unicode text (*.txt), rather than saving it directly as any of the other comma-separated value or text file formats that Excel offers, such as CSV (Comma delimited (*.csv). Excel only exports Unicode text correctly with the Unicode text (*.txt) output format. To save it in this format, do the following:
1. In Excel, on the File menu, click Save As.
2. In Save as type, select Unicode text (*.txt).
Files that are saved with Excel in Unicode format are tab-separated. You must specify using a tab as the field delimiter when you import a file using the Import Data Wizard.
If you use any other editor to edit the files after saving them as Unicode text, be sure to Save As and specify a format that keeps the Unicode. For example, if you use Notepad, in the Save As type box, select Text Documents (*.txt), and in the Encoding box, select Unicode.