Exporting for Excel Analysis

Getting the data out is only half the battle. Here is how to ensure your TableForge export works seamlessly with Excel.

XLSX vs CSV

XLSX is best for general use. It preserves data types and character encoding better than CSV.

CSV is best for database imports or legacy systems. It strips all formatting and provides raw text.

Preparing for Pivot Tables

If you plan to Pivot your data:

• Ensure every column has a unique header in the Verify step.
• Remove any empty rows using the Row Delete tool.
• Check for "merged" headers that span multiple columns and split them if necessary.

Date Formats

TableForge exports dates as text strings to prevent Excel from guessing incorrectly (e.g., confusing 1/2/23 vs 2/1/23). In Excel, you can convert these columns to Date format using "Text to Columns" tool if needed.