---
title: "Create a Report From a CSV/XLS File"
slug: "create-csv-reports"
description: "Learn how to configure the CSV/Excel Data Source in the Report Designer to import and format CSV or XLS files."
updated: 2026-07-13T17:11:28Z
published: 2026-07-13T17:11:28Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/create-csv-reports"
---

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

# Create a Report From a CSV/XLS File

## Overview

In the Report Designer, the **CSV/Excel Data Source** is used to import a CSV or an Excel(XLS) file that directly formats into the **Report**.

Once this Data Source is selected for the Report, the properties can provide a location to configure the source file itself, file type, separator, and more. The file type option is preset to **AutoSelect** and the separator is preset to **Comma**, these typically suffice for most imports.

The Report sourced from the CSV/Excel file should not have spaces between its field names. If the Report is imported with spacing, the spaces will severely impact performance and create a validation error that will require the user to reformat the Report fields in the CSV/Excel file to remove the spacing.

---

## Example

1. [Create a Report.](/version-10/docs/create-reports) Select the **Add** button in the Data Sources section.
2. Expand the **Common** section of the list that appears, then select **CSV/Excel Data Source**, and the Properties tab will update accordingly.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1781545692919.png)
3. Locate the configuration options under the **SETTINGS** section of the Properties tab.
4. Use the **CHOOSE FILE** button or drag a CSV/XLS file from the PC file explorer into the upload box. The Report Designer converts the file into a **Report**and uses the column headers to automatically add corresponding Data Fields.
  1. The **Worksheet Index** is to specify a starting point from the CSV data to the Report Designer which defaults to 0. For reference, if it were a 1 instead, the data would have imported with the first row as the headers/Data Fields.
  2. The **Runtime Behavior** options can be used to determine whether or not the Report is editable at runtime or if values should be retrieved from another Report at runtime. ![](blob:https://portal.document360.io/e744e007-0204-4be4-8cf9-d27e555f7bb9)