title: Create a Google Sheet with Plain Text Cells to Prevent Auto-Format of Strings
body: <p>I work with a group of users who frequently need to edit CSV files that contain Strings that look like dates and numbers.  These strings need to be preserved as strings.</p>
  
  <p>For example</p>
  
  <pre><code>2016-04
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is converted to a date field </p>
  
  <pre><code>4/1/2016
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When editing a new spreadsheet, we must set the format of every cell to TEXT/Plain Text to prevent this conversion.  When importing an existing CSV file, we need to prevent this conversion from taking place.</p>
  
  <p>Unfortunately, Excel and Google Sheets auto-convert strings on import or file open.  </p>
  
  <p>What is the best way to prevent this conversion in Google Sheets?</p>