Export & Download

Once you've uploaded, analyzed, and potentially edited your data in DB Table, you'll want to save your work. This guide covers all the export options and best practices for downloading your processed data.

Export Overview

What Gets Exported

When you export data from DB Table, you get:

• All visible data from the currently active sheet
• Applied formatting based on detected column types
• Your edits if you've made changes to the data
• Current sort order if you've sorted any columns
• Filtered results if you have active filters

Export Format

CSV (Comma-Separated Values)

• Universal format compatible with Excel, Google Sheets, and most data tools
• Preserves data values with proper formatting
• Maintains column headers
• Uses UTF-8 encoding for international characters

How to Export

Basic Export Process

1. Ensure you're on the correct sheet (for multi-sheet Excel files)
2. Apply any desired filters or sorting to customize your export
3. Click the "Export" button in the toolbar
4. Download begins automatically - your browser will save the file
5. File is named based on your original filename with "_processed" suffix

Export Button Location

The Export button is located in the main toolbar and is available:

• After successful file upload and processing
• In both view and edit modes
• For all supported file types (Excel and CSV)
• On all sheets in multi-sheet files

Export Options

Current Sheet Only

Default Behavior

• Exports only the currently active sheet
• Perfect for focused analysis of specific data
• Reduces file size for large multi-sheet files
• Maintains sheet-specific formatting and edits

Filtered Data Export

When Filters Are Active

• Only rows matching your search/filter criteria are exported
• Column visibility settings are respected
• Hidden columns are excluded from export
• Useful for creating focused datasets

Example Use Cases

• Export only records from a specific date range
• Download filtered customer data
• Create subset files for different departments
• Extract specific data categories

Formatted Data Export

Data Formatting in Export

• Dates: Exported in ISO format (YYYY-MM-DD) for compatibility
• Currency: Numeric values without currency symbols
• Percentages: Decimal values (0.75 instead of 75%)
• Numbers: Clean numeric values with decimal precision
• Booleans: Standardized as "true"/"false"
• Text: Preserved exactly as displayed

Multi-Sheet File Handling

Sheet Selection

For Excel Files with Multiple Sheets:

1. Switch to desired sheet using sheet tabs
2. Export downloads current sheet only
3. Repeat process for each sheet you want to export
4. Each export creates a separate CSV file

Naming Convention

Exported Files Are Named:

• original_filename_sheetname_processed.csv
• Example: sales_data_Q1_2024_processed.csv
• Special characters in sheet names are replaced with underscores
• Spaces are replaced with underscores for compatibility

File Management

Download Location

Browser Default Behavior

• Files download to your browser's default download folder
• Usually ~/Downloads on Mac/Linux or C:\Users\[username]\Downloads on Windows
• Check your browser settings to change download location
• Some browsers may prompt for save location

File Naming

Automatic Naming Pattern

[original_filename]_[sheet_name]_processed.csv

Examples:

• customer_data.xlsx → customer_data_Sheet1_processed.csv
• sales_report.csv → sales_report_processed.csv
• inventory.xlsx (Sheet: "Products") → inventory_Products_processed.csv

File Size Considerations

Typical Export Sizes

• Text-heavy data: Similar size to original
• Formatted data: May be smaller due to CSV efficiency
• Large datasets: Compression during download
• Filtered exports: Significantly smaller than original

Data Integrity

Preserving Your Work

What's Maintained

• ✅ All data values and edits
• ✅ Column type formatting
• ✅ Sort order (reflected in row order)
• ✅ Character encoding (UTF-8)
• ✅ Special characters and symbols

What's Not Included

• ❌ Excel-specific formatting (colors, fonts, borders)
• ❌ Formulas (only calculated values)
• ❌ Charts and images
• ❌ Multiple sheets in single file
• ❌ Cell comments or notes

Quality Assurance

Automatic Validation

• Data integrity checks before export
• Encoding validation for special characters
• Format consistency verification
• Error handling for corrupted data

Best Practices

Before Exporting

1. Review your data - Check for any errors or inconsistencies
2. Apply final formatting - Use AI profiler if needed
3. Save any edits - Ensure all changes are committed
4. Check filters - Make sure you're exporting the right data
5. Verify sheet selection - Confirm you're on the correct sheet

File Organization

Recommended Practices

1. Use descriptive names - Rename downloaded files if needed
2. Create folders - Organize exports by project or date
3. Version control - Add dates or version numbers to filenames
4. Backup important data - Keep copies of critical exports
5. Document changes - Note what modifications were made

Workflow Integration

Common Next Steps

• Import to Excel - Open CSV in Excel for further analysis
• Load into databases - Use CSV for database imports
• Share with team - Email or upload to shared drives
• Create reports - Use exported data in reporting tools
• Archive data - Store processed data for future reference

Troubleshooting

Common Export Issues

"Export button not working"

• Cause: File may still be processing
• Solution: Wait for upload to complete, then try again

"Downloaded file is empty"

• Cause: All data may be filtered out
• Solution: Clear filters and try exporting again

"Special characters look wrong"

• Cause: Encoding issue in receiving application
• Solution: Open CSV with UTF-8 encoding specified

"Numbers showing as text in Excel"

• Cause: Excel's automatic type detection
• Solution: Use Excel's "Text to Columns" feature to fix formatting

File Opening Issues

Excel Opening Problems

1. Open Excel first, then use File > Open
2. Select "All Files" in file type dropdown
3. Choose your CSV file
4. Use Text Import Wizard if prompted
5. Specify UTF-8 encoding if characters appear wrong

Google Sheets Import

1. Go to Google Sheets
2. File > Import
3. Upload your CSV file
4. Choose "Replace spreadsheet" or "Insert new sheet"
5. Select appropriate import settings

Advanced Features

Batch Processing (Coming Soon)

Future export features will include:

• Export all sheets at once
• Batch export with custom naming
• Multiple format options (Excel, JSON, etc.)
• Scheduled exports
• API access for automated workflows

Custom Export Settings (Coming Soon)

Planned customization options:

• Choose date format for exports
• Select decimal precision for numbers
• Custom delimiter options
• Header row inclusion/exclusion
• Quote character preferences

Security & Privacy

Data Handling

Export Security

• Local processing - Export happens in your browser
• No server storage - Files aren't stored on our servers
• Secure download - Files transmitted over HTTPS
• Temporary files - Browser cleans up automatically

Privacy Protection

• No data logging - Export contents aren't monitored
• Local operation - Your data stays on your device
• Session-based - Data cleared when you close browser
• No tracking - Export activity isn't tracked

Next steps: After exporting your data, you might want to learn about data editing to make further improvements, or explore column types to better understand the formatting applied to your export.