Skip to main content

How do I upload an Excel or CSV file as a source?

Overview

A data source is the foundation of every dashboard in Vantage. Before you can add widgets, apply filters, or share insights, Vantage needs data to work with. The fastest way to bring data into Vantage is by uploading an Excel (.xlsx) or CSV (.csv) file directly from your computer.

When you upload a file, Vantage reads its columns and rows, stores them in its analytics engine, and makes the data available for dashboards and widgets. You can upload multiple files to create separate data sources, and later define relationships between them to combine data across sources.

When to Use

Upload an Excel or CSV file when you need to:

  • Analyse spreadsheet data — You have sales figures, audit scores, inventory counts, or survey results in a spreadsheet and want to turn them into charts and KPIs.
  • Bring in data from an external system — You exported data from another tool (ERP, HRMS, POS) as a file and want to visualise it in Vantage.
  • Create a one-time or periodic data snapshot — The data does not change frequently enough to need an automated API connection; a manual upload is simpler.
  • Prototype a dashboard quickly — You want to test a dashboard layout and widget configuration with real data before setting up a live API connector.

Concepts

Data Source – A named data set inside Vantage that widgets query. Each uploaded file becomes its own data source with a unique table of columns and rows.

Connector – The method used to bring data into Vantage. Uploading an Excel or CSV file is one connector type; REST API and internal Converse forms are others.

Ingest – The process that reads your uploaded file, maps its columns, and writes the data into Vantage’s analytics engine (ClickHouse). Ingest runs automatically after you upload.

Column Mapping – Vantage detects each column’s name and data type (text, number, date) from the file. You can review and adjust these before the data is saved.

Replace vs Append – When you re-upload a file to an existing data source, you can choose to replace all existing rows with the new file’s data, or append the new rows to what is already there.

Typed Columns – Vantage stores each column with a specific data type (String, DateTime, Int64, Float64, etc.). Correct types ensure filters, sorting, and aggregations work as expected.

Set Up Guide

Before You Start

From the Home Page, click the Vantage Dashboard widget to open Vantage. If you have not added this widget yet, follow the Custom Widget help doc to set it up.

  1. Open the Data Sources screen — In the Vantage sidebar, click Data Sources. You will see a list of all existing data sources for your organisation.
  2. Start a new upload — Click the + Add Source (or Upload) button and select Excel / CSV as the connector type.
  3. Choose your file — Browse your computer and select the .xlsx or .csv file you want to upload. The file is sent to Vantage and the ingest process begins automatically.
  4. Review column mapping — Vantage displays the detected columns with their names and data types. Check that dates are recognised as dates, numbers as numbers, and text as text. Adjust any column type if needed.
  5. Name the data source — Give the data source a clear, descriptive name (e.g., "Store Sales — Q3 2026" or "Employee Training Scores"). This name appears in the dashboard builder when you add widgets.
  6. Save — Click Save. The data is now stored in Vantage and ready for use in dashboards.

From here you can:

  • Create a dashboard and add widgets that query this data source — see How do I create a dashboard?
  • View and edit the uploaded data — see How do I view and edit data in a source?
  • Define a relationship to join this data with another source — see How do I create a relationship between data sources?

Best Practices

Use a header row in the first row of your file — Vantage reads it to name each column automatically. Remove blank rows and columns before uploading — extra blanks create empty columns in your data source. Keep dates in a consistent format (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD or DD/MM/YYYY) so Vantage detects them as date columns. Avoid merged cells in Excel files — merged cells do not translate into clean rows and columns. If your data changes regularly, re-upload the updated file and choose Replace to keep the data source current. Use one sheet per file — Vantage reads the first sheet by default. Keep file sizes manageable — very large files take longer to ingest.

  • How do I connect a REST API as a data source?
  • How do I connect internal Converse forms as a data source?
  • How do I view and edit data in a source?
  • How do I create a relationship between data sources?

FAQs

Can I upload more than one file? Yes. Each file becomes its own data source. You can then create relationships between them if they share a common column.

What file formats are supported? Excel (.xlsx) and CSV (.csv) files are supported.

Can I update the data after uploading? Yes. Re-upload an updated file to the same data source and choose Replace to overwrite the old data, or Append to add new rows.

What happens if my column names change between uploads? If column names differ from the original upload, Vantage may create new columns. Keep column names consistent across uploads.

Version Notes

Last Updated: Oct 2026

Back to top