Upload data
Drop a CSV straight into the prompt window or click on Upload CSV file to select a file from your computer. Datastory reads your data and recommends several chart types to start from, so you’re editing a real chart within seconds.
If your data is in Excel, save it as a CSV first (in Excel: File > Save As, then choose CSV UTF-8).
Tips for a successful data upload
If your chart looks empty, has odd column names, or numbers show up as text, your file usually just needs a quick cleanup.
Here’s what to check:
Prepare your data in one simple table
The first row should be your column headers (labels like Year, Country, Amount), with data in the cells beneath those headers. One piece of information per cell, one entry per row.
- Delete blank rows and columns so the data is one solid block. A missing value here and there is fine.
- Remove anything above the headers, such as titles, notes, logos. The very first row must be the headers.
- Unmerge merged cellsand repeat the value instead (e.g. put “2024” in every row it covers instead of covering a section with blank cells below).
Check formatting
- Check the separator. Depending on your region, Excel may save with semicolons (
;) instead of commas, and use decimal commas (1,5). If all your data lands in one column (likeJönköping; 165; Sverige), re-save from Excel as CSV UTF-8, which uses commas. - Protect numbers and IDs. Remove thousands separators from large numbers (
40,420,000,000or40 420 000 000can read as text, not a number), and format codes with leading zeros (postal codes, IDs) as text so the zeros aren’t dropped.
When your data file isn’t accepted
If one or more of the columns in your data table get flagged with an error, see Data table (When a warning appears).
