FlowMattic Tables CSV Export Guide

Overview

The CSV Export feature in FlowMattic Tables enables you to export your table data to CSV format for use in spreadsheet applications, data analysis tools, or backup purposes. With selective column export, custom naming, and proper formatting, you have complete control over your data exports.

Prerequisites

• Access Requirements: Administrator privileges in FlowMattic
• Browser Requirements: Modern browser with JavaScript enabled
• Table Data: Existing table with data to export
• Storage Space: Sufficient local storage for downloaded file

Key Features

• 📊 Full Table Export: Export all records from your table
• 🎯 Selective Column Export: Choose specific columns to include
• 📝 Custom Filenames: Name your export files meaningfully
• ⚡ Instant Download: Automatic download upon completion
• 🔒 Data Integrity: Proper escaping and formatting
• 📈 Excel Compatible: Works with all major spreadsheet applications

Step-by-Step Export Process

Step 1: Access the Export Feature

1. Navigate to your FlowMattic table
2. Locate the Export CSV button in the top toolbar (gray button with download icon)
3. Click to open the export modal

Step 2: Configure Export Settings

Setting the Filename

1. The filename field is pre-populated with your table name
2. Customize the filename as needed (without .csv extension)
3. Use descriptive names for easy identification

Filename Guidelines:

• ✅ Allowed: Letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores
• ❌ Not allowed: Special characters like /, , *, ?, <, >, |
• 📝 Maximum length: 100 characters
• 🔄 Extension (.csv) is added automatically

Good filename examples:

• customers_2025_january
• product_inventory_backup
• sales_data_Q1
• user_list_export

Step 3: Select Columns to Export (Optional)

Viewing Current Selection

By default, all columns are selected for export. The export modal shows:

• Records: Total number of rows to be exported
• Columns: Number of columns currently selected
• Estimated Size: Approximate file size

Customizing Column Selection

1. Click the Change link next to the column count
2. The column selection panel appears
3. Select/deselect columns as needed

Column Selection Features:

• Individual Selection: Click checkbox next to each column
• Select All: Click to select all columns at once
• Deselect All: Click to clear all selections
• Apply Selection: Confirms your column choices

Selection Tips:

• Export only the columns you need to reduce file size
• Consider privacy when sharing exports - exclude sensitive columns
• At least one column must be selected
• Column order in export matches table structure

Step 4: Review Export Information

Before proceeding, review the export details:

Export Information Displayed:

• All Records: Confirms all table records will be exported
• Processing Time: Estimate based on data volume
• File Format: Standard CSV with headers
• Download Method: Automatic browser download

Step 5: Execute the Export

1. Click the Export CSV button
2. Export processing begins immediately
3. Progress bar shows completion status

During Export:

• Progress bar animates to show activity
• Status message: “Exporting Data…”
• Modal cannot be closed (prevents interruption)
• Browser must remain open

Step 6: Download Completion

When export completes:

1. Status shows “Export completed! Starting download…”
2. File automatically downloads to your default download folder
3. Modal closes automatically after 2 seconds
4. Table remains accessible throughout

Understanding Your Exported CSV

File Structure

Your exported CSV file will have this structure:

id,customer_name,email,registration_date,status
1,"John Doe",[email protected],2025-01-15,active
2,"Jane Smith",[email protected],2025-01-16,pending
3,"Bob Johnson",[email protected],2025-01-17,active

Data Formatting Standards

Headers

• First row always contains column headers
• Headers match your table column names
• Headers are properly escaped if containing special characters

Data Rows

• Each row represents one table record
• Fields are comma-separated
• Text fields with commas are quoted
• Empty fields are represented as empty (not NULL)

Special Character Handling

Advanced Export Features

Selective Column Export

Perfect for creating specialized exports:

Use Cases:

• Privacy Compliance: Exclude personal information
• Department Specific: Export only relevant columns
• File Size Optimization: Reduce large exports
• Integration Ready: Match required import formats

Example Scenarios:

1. Customer List for Marketing:

   • Include: name, email, preferences
   • Exclude: passwords, payment info

2. Inventory Report:

   • Include: product_id, name, quantity, price
   • Exclude: internal notes, supplier details

3. Public Data Share:

   • Include: aggregated statistics
   • Exclude: individual identifiers

Export Performance

File Size Estimates

Export Speed

• Small tables (<1,000 rows): Instant
• Medium tables (1,000-10,000): 1-3 seconds
• Large tables (10,000-100,000): 5-15 seconds
• Very large tables (100,000+): 15-60 seconds

Working with Exported Data

Opening in Excel/Google Sheets

Microsoft Excel

1. Double-click the CSV file, or
2. Open Excel → Data → From Text/CSV
3. Excel automatically detects delimiters
4. Verify data types are correct

Google Sheets

1. Open Google Sheets
2. File → Import → Upload
3. Select your CSV file
4. Choose import options:
   • Create new spreadsheet
   • Replace current sheet
   • Append to current sheet

Numbers in Mac

1. Open Numbers app
2. Choose the exported CSV file
3. Open the file in Numbers app to visualize all the data
4. Verify the data

Common Post-Export Tasks

Data Analysis

• Apply filters and sorting
• Create pivot tables
• Generate charts and graphs
• Perform calculations

Data Transformation

• Merge with other datasets
• Clean and standardize formats
• Remove duplicates
• Add calculated columns

Data Sharing

• Email as attachment
• Upload to cloud storage
• Import into other systems
• Create backups

Use Cases and Examples

Use Case 1: Regular Backups

Scenario: Weekly backup of customer data
Process:

1. Export every Friday
2. Use naming: customers_backup_YYYY_MM_DD
3. Store in backup folder
4. Keep last 4 weeks of backups

Use Case 2: Data Migration

Scenario: Moving data to new system
Process:

1. Export all columns
2. Review in spreadsheet application
3. Transform as needed
4. Import to new system

Use Case 3: Reporting

Scenario: Monthly sales report
Process:

1. Export sales table
2. Select relevant columns only
3. Open in Excel
4. Create pivot tables and charts

Use Case 4: Data Cleaning

Scenario: Identify and fix data issues
Process:

1. Export full table
2. Open in spreadsheet
3. Use filters to find issues
4. Fix in spreadsheet
5. Re-import cleaned data

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: Download Doesn’t Start

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Browser blocking downloads: Check browser settings
• Pop-up blocker: Allow pop-ups for this site
• Download folder full: Clear space on hard drive

Issue: File Won’t Open in Excel

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• File association: Right-click → Open with → Excel
• Import wizard: Use Excel’s import feature
• Encoding issues: Open in text editor first

Issue: Special Characters Display Incorrectly

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Encoding mismatch: Ensure UTF-8 support in target application
• Import settings: Specify UTF-8 when importing
• Regional settings: Check system locale settings

Issue: Missing Data in Export

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Column selection: Verify all needed columns are selected
• Filter active: Check if table has active filters
• Permissions: Ensure you have access to all data

Issue: Export Takes Too Long

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Large dataset: Be patient, large exports take time
• Browser resources: Close other tabs
• Network speed: Ensure stable connection

Best Practices

Before Exporting

1. Plan Your Export: Decide which columns you need
2. Check Data: Ensure table data is current
3. Clear Filters: Remove any active filters if you want all data
4. Consider Privacy: Exclude sensitive columns if sharing

During Export

1. Don’t Navigate Away: Stay on the page
2. Avoid Other Actions: Don’t modify table during export
3. Monitor Progress: Watch for completion
4. Be Patient: Large exports take time

After Export

1. Verify Download: Check your downloads folder
2. Open and Review: Quickly verify data integrity
3. Backup Important Exports: Save to secure location
4. Document Export: Note date and purpose

Security and Privacy

Data Security

• Export happens server-side securely
• No data cached in browser
• Direct download to your computer
• No intermediate cloud storage

Privacy Considerations

• Before Sharing Exports:
  • Remove sensitive columns
  • Anonymize personal data if needed
  • Check for internal notes/comments
  • Verify recipient authorization

Compliance Tips

• GDPR: Export only necessary personal data
• HIPAA: Exclude health information when appropriate
• PCI: Never export full credit card numbers
• Internal Policies: Follow company data handling rules

Performance Optimization

For Large Exports

1. Export During Off-Hours: Reduces server load
2. Selective Columns: Export only needed columns
3. Split Exports: Consider multiple smaller exports
4. Close Other Applications: Free up system resources

Browser Settings

• Enable automatic downloads
• Set adequate timeout values
• Clear browser cache regularly
• Use modern browser version

File Management

Organizing Exports

/exports
  /2025
    /january
      customers_2025_01_15.csv
      products_2025_01_15.csv
    /february
      customers_2025_02_15.csv
      products_2025_02_15.csv

Naming Conventions

• Include table name
• Add date stamp
• Indicate purpose (backup, report, share)
• Use version numbers if needed

Storage Best Practices

• Regular cleanup of old exports
• Compress large CSV files
• Use cloud backup for important exports
• Document export purposes

Limitations and Considerations

Technical Limitations

• Maximum File Size: Limited by browser and system memory
• Concurrent Exports: One export at a time per table
• Format: Only CSV format available (not Excel, JSON)
• Real-time Data: Export captures data at moment of export

Data Limitations

• No Formulas: Calculated fields export as values
• No Formatting: Colors, fonts, styles not preserved
• No Relationships: Foreign keys export as values
• No Metadata: Comments and notes not included

Quick Reference Checklist

Pre-Export Checklist

• [ ] Table data is up to date
• [ ] Decided which columns to export
• [ ] Chosen appropriate filename
• [ ] Cleared unnecessary filters
• [ ] Have sufficient disk space

Export Process Checklist

• [ ] Click Export CSV button
• [ ] Enter custom filename
• [ ] Select specific columns (if needed)
• [ ] Click Export button
• [ ] Wait for download to complete

Post-Export Checklist

• [ ] File downloaded successfully
• [ ] Data opens correctly
• [ ] All expected columns present
• [ ] Row count matches expectations
• [ ] File saved to appropriate location

Getting Help

If you need assistance with exports:

1. Check Documentation: Review this guide
2. FAQ Section: Access via Help button
3. Test Export: Try with small dataset first
4. Support Contact: Provide:
   • Table name and size
   • Selected columns
   • Error messages
   • Browser information

Summary

The CSV Export feature provides a robust, secure, and efficient way to extract your table data for external use. With selective column export, proper formatting, and automatic download, you can quickly get your data where you need it while maintaining data integrity and security.

Remember:

• ✅ Always verify your column selection
• ✅ Use descriptive filenames
• ✅ Check exported data after download
• ✅ Store exports securely
• ✅ Clean up old exports regularly

Last updated: September, 2025
FlowMattic Version: 5.3.0+