Export Data as a CSV File

Export data from your chart or table as a CSV file.

Context

You can export both acquired and live data from a chart or table as a CSV file. However, live data may take some time to export, because it must be downloaded before it can be exported.

In the Examine workflow, you can export from an auto-generated chart for a Table.

You can also export from the Explorer. For more information, see Accessing the Explorer.

Note

Before exporting data, make sure that the number formats are the same for the model and your local machine. For example, if the data you want to export uses a comma as a decimal separator and a period as a thousands separator (123.456,78), you will need to verify that your machine's number format is the same.

On a PC, in the Control Panel, go to Start of the navigation pathClock, Language, and Region Next navigation step Region Next navigation step Additional SettingsEnd of the navigation path and verify the separator formats.

Restriction
The following usage restrictions apply to chart exports as well as to table exports that have the Scope set to All:

  • Formatting (such as cell color, font styles, and so on) will not be exported.

  • Hyperlinks are removed.

  • Hierarchies are flattened.

  • If you have renamed a measure or dimension, you won't see your names in the exported data.

    The measure and dimension names from the data source are exported.

The following usage restrictions apply to table exports that have the Scope set to All:

  • Maximum number of measure columns: 60

  • Maximum number of cells of data: 3 million

  • Table data:

    • Only the table data region is exported. Custom cells outside the data region (for example, on a grid page) are not exported.

    • Special table operations such as including properties (for example, an extra row or column for the ID or description), hiding columns, and adding calculated columns are not supported.

Restriction
The export option is disabled if any of the following are valid:

  • There is no data in the chart.

  • The model that is used is in Edit mode.

The notification dialog provides information on the export progress or completion. It also allows you to cancel the export.

Procedure

  1. Choose your chart or table.
  2. Choose Start of the navigation path (More Actions) Next navigation step  ExportEnd of the navigation path.
  3. In the dialog, provide a Name for your CSV file.
  4. For your table, verify that the File Type field shows CSV.
  5. Select the Scope for your CSV file:
    Option Description
    All

    Exports all the data, not just the currently visible data.

    For example, if your chart has a hierarchy, all the nodes of the hierarchy will be exported, even if you have not drilled down on the data in your chart.

    Restriction

    Even though the scope is set to All, you can't export more than 3 million cells of data.
    Point of view

    Exports what you see in the table data region grid (all the visible rows and columns).

    The Point of view export includes visible comment columns, calculations, and hierarchy levels in separate columns.
    Tip

    If you want to include custom cells (that are outside the table data region) in your export, you need to select all the cells, copy them, and then paste them into Excel.

  6. To maintain Scaling, Units, and Currencies formatting, select Include Number Formatting.
    Tip

    Use Include Number Formatting when you want the formatting to exactly match what is in the chart or table. For example, if the table shows $12.04 Million, that is how the value will be exported, even if that is a rounded value.

    Don't use Include Number Formatting if the actual data values are different from those displayed in the chart or table (for example, the actual data has more decimal places).

  7. (Table export) To flatten hierarchical data, select Don't separate Hierarchy levels in individual columns.
  8. Choose a CSV Delimiter (column separator).
  9. Select OK.

    Depending on your browser settings, your file is saved automatically or a dialog opens for you to choose where to save your file.

Results

Your CSV file is saved.

Next Steps

Remember

Before opening the exported CSV file in Excel, verify that your Excel list separator settings are set correctly.

Tip

If you have data columns that contain only numeric values (such as ID columns, zip codes or data with leading zeros), you will need to import your CSV file into Excel. If you try to open it directly in Excel, the numeric columns will be treated as numbers, not text.

  1. Make a note of where you saved the CSV file, but do not open it.

  2. Open Excel.

    The following instructions apply to Excel 365. If you have an older version of Excel, the steps may be slightly different.

  3. Select the “Data” tab.

  4. Select “From Text/CSV”.

    The “Import Data” dialog box (Windows explorer dialog) appears.

  5. Select the CSV file to import and click “Import”.

    The text import dialog appears.

  6. From the “File Origin” list, select “Unicode (UTF-8)”.

  7. Select “Transform Data”.

    The “Power Query Editor” opens.

  8. Find a column that needs the data type to be changed.

  9. In the column header, right-click, select “Change Type”, and then select “Text”.

    When the prompt appears, select “Replace Current”.

  10. Repeat the process for each column that needs to have its type changed.

  11. When you are finished, from the menu select “File” and then select “Close & Load”.

Save your file as an Excel file.

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