Excel File Step
The Excel File step imports spreadsheets in XLSX, XLS, and XLSB formats to start a Data Preparation flow from that file's data.
The Excel File is in the Data Source category of the toolbar. After configuring the preparation with it, you upload the files via the File Upload screen of the Dattos platform.
Importing the spreadsheet
There are two ways to load the file:
Import File: opens the file explorer for you to select the file.
Drag and drop: drag the file directly onto the screen.
Import validation: only files with XLSX, XLS, and XLSB extensions and a maximum size of 50 MB are accepted.
Configuring the step and choosing the tabs
On the configuration screen, you will find:
File information: identifies the name of the imported file.
Change File: replaces the imported file. When importing a new file, the platform offers to keep the existing settings and only update the sample, or update all settings based on the new file.
Name: identifies the name of the step. By default, it takes the name of the imported sample file, but the field is editable.
Then, choose how the platform locates the tabs to be configured for reading:
Read considering the tab name: the platform looks for the tab by its name.
Read considering the tab order: the platform looks for the tab by its order. Useful when the tab name might change, but the data remains the same.
When the file has more than one tab, the select tabs option appears and allows you to choose which tabs to configure. For each tab, the screen shows the tab Order in the file, the tab Name in the file, and the Output (the data output port used to connect the steps).
Tip: choose a name that represents the file's information and is easy for you and your colleagues to understand.
One output per tab: for each imported tab, according to the selection made, the platform generates an output port.
Unified tabs: if the "Unify tabs into a single output port" option is active in the advanced settings, only one tab can be selected as a template.
Configuring tabs and columns
For each selected tab, adjust the reading and columns:
Select File tab: chooses the tab to configure.
Contains Header?: determines if the file has a header.
Start data import at line / Enter header line: defines the starting line for reading the data.
Column Order: shows the order in which columns were imported; the field is editable.
Column Name: shows all columns in the file; names can be renamed.
Data Type: Alphanumeric, Numeric, or Date. For Date, enter the mask pattern that the column uses. The field is editable.
Sample: displays the column content of the first imported row.
Add Column: manually includes columns in the configuration. Enter the quantity and click the button; the new row opens to fill in Order (editable), Source Name (editable), Sample (comes null and is not editable), and Data Type (Alphanumeric, Numeric, or Date).
Delete Column Icon: removes a column from the tab configuration.
Use Close to exit without saving and return to the Designer, or Save to save the settings.
Advanced settings
Decimal separator to convert text to number: Comma ( , ) or Period ( . ), according to the separator used in the file. For example, a content "100,99" read as a number needs the Comma separator; "100.99" needs the Period separator. In both cases, the displayed result is "100,99".
Add data source name as column: adds a column to the sample with the name of the step.
Add file name as column: adds a column to the sample with the name of the imported file.
Add tab name as column: adds a column to the sample with the name of the data output tab.
Unify tabs into a single output port: use when the column structure is identical in all tabs or when you want to treat all tabs as a single table at the step's output.
When unifying tabs: with "Unify tabs into a single output port" active, when choosing the tabs for reading, only one tab can be selected as a template.
Related articles
Configure Data Preparation
OFX File Step
Text File Step