# Import Large Text Files?

**URL:** <https://community.wolfram.com/t/import-large-text-files/4119>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** mathematica, import-and-export\
**Created:** [November 25, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/import-large-text-files/4119 "2014-11-25T14:52:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lewismillar11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@lewismillar11](https://community.wolfram.com/u/lewismillar11)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/import-large-text-files/4119/1 "2014-11-25T14:52:39Z")

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Just a quick one, any idea if there is a quicker way to import large list files? For instance, i have a 5 column list file, around 20mb, and I want to import only the 2nd and 3rd columns into mathematica to plot. I’ve tried import, but it runs for far too long and doesn’t seem to finish (after about 10 minutes). Anyway of doing this but quickly? I tried ReadList but not really sure how that can give me the right columns?

Thanks,

Lewis

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**Author:** ![gregwhammond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@gregwhammond](https://community.wolfram.com/u/gregwhammond)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/import-large-text-files/4119/2 "2015-01-17T22:46:29Z")

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Hi Lewis,

```auto
Data = Import["/filename.csv", "Grid"];
Data[[All, All, {2, 3}]]

```

Will import the 2nd & 3rd columns from the CSV file, but not any of the other columns.  
Hope this helps,

Greg

* * *

Following commenter correctly points out that the file is small. A visual inspection of the data may be able to find the cause.

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**Author:** ![dlkeith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/wolfram/user_avatar/community.wolfram.com/dlkeith/32/31494_2.png) [@dlkeith](https://community.wolfram.com/u/dlkeith)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/import-large-text-files/4119/3 "2015-01-18T17:29:45Z")

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20mb is a small file. Something else is wrong. I suggest you post an abbreviated data file.