Save Excel file as pipe-delimited values file
While I don't know how to use the pipe character | can I suggest you use "Tab-Delimited Text" which is one of the "Specialty Formats" listed under "Save As...".

Then if you wish you can use tr to change the tabs to pipes. tr '\t' '\|' &lt; file.txt &gt; file_converted.txt at the command line.

Note that most software that exports CSV files (including Excel) wraps a field with a comma in it in quotes (as you mention above). Also note that most software that imports CSV files can usually also perform the unwrap. Finally, you may well find that whatever you are doing with the exported file is perfectly happy with tab-delimited text.