> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.qvista.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Import CSV and Excel Spreadsheet Files into Qvista

> Upload CSV and Excel files into Qvista, automate ingestion, validate data on import, and join file data with live database sources.

Qvista makes it easy to bring flat files and spreadsheets into your data workflows without writing a single line of code. Whether your team exports weekly reports as CSV files, shares financial models in Excel, or receives data feeds from external partners in either format, you can upload those files directly into Qvista, apply transformation and cleansing rules, and combine the results with any other connected data source. File-based data works alongside your live database and API connections — not in isolation.

## CSV Files

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files are one of the most universal formats for data exchange. Qvista provides full import and export support with a flexible parsing engine that handles a wide range of CSV variants.

### Key Features

<Accordion title="Automated Data Ingestion">
  Schedule recurring CSV imports so your data stays current without manual uploads. Qvista automatically pulls from updated files at the intervals you define, maintaining consistency for real-time analytics and reporting.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Flexible Data Parsing">
  Specify custom delimiters, character encodings, and column-to-field mappings to work with any CSV format your vendors or systems produce. Qvista handles large CSV files efficiently without performance bottlenecks.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Data Transformation and Cleaning">
  Apply transformation rules directly on import: convert data types, fill missing values, reformat dates, filter rows by condition, and apply business-logic rules before the data reaches a dashboard.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Data Validation and Error Handling">
  Qvista validates each row on import and flags errors such as missing required fields, invalid data types, or formatting mismatches. An error log gives you a precise list of issues to fix before the data is committed.
</Accordion>

## Excel Files

Excel (.xls and .xlsx) files are widely used for reporting, financial modeling, and team collaboration. Qvista supports both legacy and modern Excel formats with multi-sheet extraction and advanced data handling.

### Key Features

<Accordion title="Full .xls and .xlsx Support">
  Import files from any version of Excel. Qvista handles single-sheet files as well as complex workbooks with multiple sheets, custom ranges, and named ranges — letting you extract exactly the data you need.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Automated Ingestion on a Schedule">
  Configure Qvista to automatically pull from an updated Excel file at set intervals — useful for teams that receive regular financial reports or operational summaries in Excel format.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Data Transformation and Cleaning">
  Qvista automatically detects data types, handles merged cells, and cleans up common formatting issues found in real-world Excel files. You can also apply custom transformation rules to reshape data before analysis.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Error Handling with Logs">
  Like CSV imports, Excel imports include built-in validation. Any rows with invalid data types, missing fields, or structural inconsistencies are captured in the error log, so you can fix problems before they reach your reports.
</Accordion>

## Upload a File

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Data Sources">
    Navigate to **Data Sources** in the Qvista sidebar and click **Add New Source**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose File Type">
    Select **CSV File** or **Excel File** from the source type list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload Your File">
    Drag and drop your file into the upload area, or click **Browse** to select it from your computer. Qvista accepts `.csv`, `.xls`, and `.xlsx` formats.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Parsing Options">
    For CSV files, set the delimiter (comma, tab, pipe, or custom), character encoding, and whether the first row contains headers. For Excel files, select the target sheet and specify any named ranges if needed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply Transformation Rules">
    Use the column mapping panel to rename fields, set data types, filter rows, and define any cleaning rules such as missing-value handling or date reformatting.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the Validation Report">
    Qvista runs an automatic validation pass and displays any errors or warnings. Resolve flagged issues before proceeding.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the Source">
    Click **Save**. Your file data is now available as a named data source across all dashboards, reports, and workflows in your workspace.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  File uploads respect your workspace's **role-based access controls**. Only team members with the appropriate permissions can upload, replace, or delete a file-based data source.
</Note>

## Join File Data with Other Sources

One of the most powerful capabilities in Qvista is the ability to join file-based data with live data sources. For example, you can merge a CSV of quarterly targets with real-time sales data from a PostgreSQL database, or combine an Excel roster with employee records from your HR system's API. Use Qvista's data transformation layer to define join keys, resolve type mismatches, and shape the merged dataset before building any visualization.

<Tip>
  If your team receives updated Excel reports on a regular schedule, use Qvista's **automated ingestion** feature to replace the file source automatically — so every dashboard that depends on it stays current without any manual re-upload.
</Tip>