How to Export CSV Data from Microsoft Excel and Import It into clariBI

Microsoft Excel is the most widely used spreadsheet application in the world. Exporting your Excel data as CSV and importing it into clariBI allows you to leverage AI analytics on financial models, operational data, sales reports, and any other business data stored in Excel.

What You Can Export from Microsoft Excel

• Financial models and budget tracking data
• Sales reports and pipeline data
• Inventory and supply chain records
• Employee and HR data maintained in workbooks
• Customer lists and CRM-style tracking
• Project timelines and task tracking
• Any tabular data with column headers
• Pivot table source data (as flat CSV)

Export CSV Data from Microsoft Excel

Method 1: Save As CSV (Desktop App)

1. Open your Excel workbook (.xlsx or .xls file)
2. Navigate to the specific worksheet tab you want to export (CSV saves only the active sheet)
3. Click File > Save As
4. Choose the location where you want to save the file
5. In the Save as type dropdown, select CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)
6. Enter a file name and click Save
7. Click OK if prompted about CSV format limitations (formatting and multiple sheets are not preserved)

Method 2: Export via File Menu (Excel 365 / Excel 2019+)

1. Open your workbook and select the sheet to export
2. Click File > Export
3. Select Change File Type
4. Under Other File Types, choose CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)
5. Click Save As, choose a location, and click Save

Method 3: Save As CSV UTF-8 (For International Characters)

1. Open your workbook and select the active sheet
2. Click File > Save As
3. Choose your save location
4. In the Save as type dropdown, select CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (*.csv)
5. Click Save
6. This format preserves special characters, accents, and non-English text

Tips for Clean Exports

• Only the active worksheet is exported as CSV, so repeat the process for each sheet you need
• Remove any Excel-specific features like formulas (paste as values first), merged cells, and charts before exporting
• Use CSV UTF-8 format if your data contains non-English characters, currency symbols, or special characters

Import Your Data into clariBI

1. Log in to your clariBI account at claribi.com
2. Click Data Sources in the left sidebar
3. Click the + Add Source button (top right)
4. Under Direct Upload, select CSV File
5. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Excel - Financial Model Q4 2024")
6. Click the upload area or drag and drop your CSV file
7. Click Create Data Source

Once imported, you can ask clariBI questions like:
- "Summarize the key metrics in this dataset and highlight any significant trends."
- "What is the month-over-month growth rate for each category in this data?"
- "Identify the top and bottom performers in this dataset and explain what factors differentiate them."

clariBI's AI will automatically analyze your data and suggest relevant insights.