Some applications, including Microsoft Excel, do not correctly handle newlines that are present within CSV data fields.
For example, an address may include street information, followed by a newline, followed by the city and province, followed by a newline, followed by a postal code. The newlines are used to provide formatting for the field. This form of data is valid and part of the CSV specification (please see [1] and [2]).
Applications that do not correctly handle newlines treat data that follows a newline as a new row of data. This leads to unexpected behaviour and errors when importing CSV files.
One workaround for this limitation is to use software that correctly processes CSV files.
For example, OpenOffice can be used to import a CSV file that contains newlines in data fields. The resulting spreadsheet can either be used as is or OpenOffice can be used to save the file in Microsoft Excel format (e.g. .xls). The file can then be opened for editing in Microsoft Excel.
In a similar way, Google Docs can be used to import the CSV file. Again, the resulting spreadsheet may be used as is or Google Docs may be used to save the file in Microsoft Excel format for editing in Microsoft Excel.
OpenOffice may be obtained free of charge for Windows, Mac, and Linux: http://www.openoffice.org
Alternately, Mac users can use NeoOffice, an OpenOffice port for the Mac: http://www.neooffice.org
Google Docs require an Internet connection and a Google account: http://docs.google.com