File Upload & Management

DB Table makes it easy to upload and work with your spreadsheet files. This guide covers everything you need to know about getting your data into the application.

Supported File Formats

Excel Files

DB Table supports both modern and legacy Excel formats:

• .xlsx - Excel 2007 and later (recommended)
• .xls - Excel 97-2003 (legacy format)

Features supported:

• Multiple worksheets
• Mixed data types
• Date and time values
• Currency and percentage formatting
• Large datasets (up to 4MB recommended)

CSV Files

Comma-separated values files with automatic dialect detection:

• .csv - Standard CSV format
• Automatic delimiter detection - Handles commas, semicolons, and tabs
• Header row detection - Automatically identifies column names
• Encoding support - UTF-8 and common encodings

File Size Limits

Upload Process

Drag & Drop Interface

The easiest way to upload files:

1. Locate your file in your file manager
2. Drag the file over the upload area
3. Drop the file when the area highlights
4. Processing begins automatically

Click to Upload

Alternative upload method:

1. Click the upload area or "Click to upload" text
2. Select your file from the file browser dialog
3. Click "Open" to confirm selection
4. Click "Upload File" to begin processing

Upload Validation

DB Table automatically validates your file:

• File type checking - Only Excel and CSV files are accepted
• Size validation - Files exceeding limits are rejected
• Format verification - Corrupted files are detected
• Content scanning - Empty files are flagged

File Processing

What Happens During Upload

1. File Upload - Your file is securely transferred to the server
2. Format Detection - DB Table identifies the file type and structure
3. Data Parsing - Content is extracted and converted to a standard format
4. Type Detection - Column types are automatically identified
5. Preparation - Data is prepared for display and interaction

Processing Time

Typical processing times:

Multi-Sheet Excel Files

Sheet Detection

When you upload an Excel file with multiple sheets:

• All sheets are detected automatically
• First sheet loads immediately for quick access
• Other sheets load on-demand for better performance
• Sheet names are preserved from your original file

Sheet Navigation

Navigate between sheets using:

• Sheet tabs displayed above the data table
• Click any tab to switch to that sheet
• Active sheet is highlighted with a different color
• Loading indicator shows when switching sheets

Sheet-Specific Features

Each sheet maintains:

• Independent column types - Type detection per sheet
• Separate edit states - Changes don't affect other sheets
• Individual formatting - Each sheet can have different type overrides
• Isolated filters - Search and filter settings per sheet

Error Handling

Common Upload Errors

"Please upload an Excel (.xlsx, .xls) or CSV file"

• Cause: Unsupported file format
• Solution: Convert your file to Excel or CSV format

"File size exceeds maximum limit"

• Cause: File is too large
• Solution: Reduce file size or split into smaller files

"Failed to parse Excel file"

• Cause: Corrupted or password-protected file
• Solution: Repair the file or remove password protection

"No sheets found in Excel file"

• Cause: Excel file contains no worksheets
• Solution: Ensure your Excel file has at least one worksheet with data

Troubleshooting Tips

1. Check file integrity - Try opening the file in Excel or a text editor
2. Remove passwords - DB Table cannot process password-protected files
3. Simplify formatting - Complex Excel features may not be supported
4. Try CSV export - Convert Excel to CSV if you encounter persistent issues

File Storage & Security

Temporary Storage

• Files are stored temporarily during your session
• Automatic cleanup removes files after processing
• No permanent storage - your data is not retained on our servers
• Session-based - data is cleared when you close your browser

Privacy & Security

• Local processing - Most operations happen in your browser
• No data transmission - Your data doesn't leave your device except for AI features
• Secure upload - Files are transmitted over encrypted connections
• No logging - File contents are not logged or monitored

Best Practices

Preparing Your Files

1. Clean your data - Remove empty rows and columns before upload
2. Use clear headers - Descriptive column names improve type detection
3. Consistent formatting - Keep data types consistent within columns
4. Remove merged cells - These can interfere with data parsing

Optimizing Performance

1. Use .xlsx format - More efficient than legacy .xls files
2. Limit file size - Stay under 4MB for best performance
3. Consider CSV - For simple data, CSV files process faster
4. Split large datasets - Break very large files into smaller chunks

Data Quality Tips

1. Standardize date formats - Use consistent date formatting
2. Clean numeric data - Remove extra spaces and formatting
3. Validate before upload - Check your data in Excel first
4. Use proper encoding - Ensure CSV files use UTF-8 encoding

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Next steps: Once your file is uploaded, learn how to explore and navigate your data or jump straight to using the AI profiler for better type detection.