Exporting Tabular Results |
  
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Exporting Tabular Results |
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How can I export tabular results to Excel or other spreadsheet software?
You can export many result tables from SEL to spreadsheet-friendly formats using the right-click context menu available in tabular result views.
When you right-click on a tabular result, the following options will appear:
Save to CSV:
•Saves the entire table content to a .csv (Comma-Separated Values) file.
•You will be prompted to choose a file location and name.
•Once saved, you will also be prompted if you want to automatically open the file.
•CSV files can be opened by all major spreadsheet applications and are useful for permanent records or advanced analysis.
Copy to Clipboard:
•Copies the right-clicked table content to your system clipboard.
•The copied content is formatted using standard tab delimiters, allowing for easy pasting into Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or any other spreadsheet software.
How do I properly open a CSV file exported from the software in Excel?
When you paste data from the software or open a CSV file, Excel may not always separate the values into columns correctly depending on your default settings and preferences. This is because the data is tab-delimited, not comma-delimited, to preserve numbers that include commas (e.g., “1,234.56”).
Here are some useful tips to help ensure proper formatting:
When opening a CSV File:
1.Open Excel first (do not double-click the file).
2.Go to Data > Get & Transform Data > From Text/CSV.
3.Browse to and select your saved .csv file.
4.In the import preview window, set Delimiter to Tab.
5.Confirm that the columns look correct.
6.Click Load to bring the data into Excel.
When pasting data from the Clipboard:
1.In Excel, go to Home > Paste > Use Text Import Wizard...
2.Select Delimited, then click Next.
3.Check the Tab delimiter, uncheck all the other delimiter options, then click Next.
4.(Optional) Select any columns that you know to contain text and set their Column data format to Text to avoid Excel misinterpreting them as formulas.
a.This can be helpful step if you are getting a "#NAME?" error due to Excel trying to automatically convert some text strings, like "+D+L", into equations.
5.Click Finish.
Why doesn’t the exported CSV file behave like a regular Excel file?
Although CSV files can be opened in Excel, they are not the same as native Excel (.xlsx) files. A CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file is a plain text format that stores data using a simple delimiter (tabs or commas), and it does not support many features you may be used to in Excel.
Here are a few limitations of CSV files to keep in mind:
•No formulas: Any formulas used in your SEL results or calculated externally will not be preserved.
•No formatting: Cell colors, fonts, number formatting, and other styling are not included in a CSV.
•No multiple sheets: CSV files contain only a single sheet of data.
•No data types: Excel may guess the data type of each column when you open a CSV, which can lead to misinterpretation (e.g., converting "+D+L" to a formula).
•No saved Excel features: Filters, charts, conditional formatting, pivot tables, and other advanced features do not exist in a CSV.
Best Practice Tip: Once you open a CSV in Excel and make changes or add formatting, use File > Save As to save the file as an Excel Workbook (.xlsx). This preserves your work and gives you access to the full feature set of Excel.
How do I fix the #NAME? error when pasting into Excel?
This error often happens when Excel interprets certain text strings (like "+D+L") as invalid formulas. Excel may automatically insert an equals sign (=) at the beginning, trying to treat the text as a formula, which leads to a "#NAME?" error.
To prevent or fix this:
Option 1: Follow the steps for "when pasting data from the Clipboard" described above, being sure to follow the optional step of setting Column data format to Text.
Option 2: Manually correct the pasted content
1.If the data is already pasted and shows #NAME?:
2.Select the affected cells.
3.Remove the leading = sign that Excel may have added.
4.Add a single quote (') at the beginning of the string (e.g., '+D+L) to force Excel to treat it as plain text.
