Uploading files into Scoop Analytics is the fastest way to get started exploring your data. Whether your information is stored in CSV, Excel, or a similar spreadsheet format, Scoop makes it easy to preview, clean, and ingest data right from your browser—no technical skills required.

Supported File Formats

File Size Limits

Step-by-Step Upload Process

Step 1: Start Upload

Open the Datasets page and click New Dataset. Select Upload File as the source:

Two ways to upload:

1. Drag and drop your file into the upload area
2. Click Browse to select from your computer

Step 2: Preview and Validate

Scoop automatically scans your file and shows a preview:

Adjusting Detection

If Scoop's automatic detection needs adjustment:

Tip: If Scoop highlights a date column in orange, it detected ambiguous dates. Click the column type dropdown and pick the correct format.

Step 3: Name and Confirm

1. Give your dataset a clear, descriptive name you'll recognize later
2. Review the preview one more time
3. Click Confirm Upload

Scoop will:

• Process all rows
• Scan for data quality issues
• Load valid data into your workspace
• Take you to the data explorer

Step 4: Start Analyzing

Once uploaded, you can immediately:

• Ask questions in natural language
• Create visualizations
• Add calculated columns
• Set up snapshotting (for recurring uploads)

What Happens After Upload

AI Understanding

After upload, Scoop's AI:

• Analyzes column relationships
• Identifies potential metrics and dimensions
• Suggests relevant visualizations
• Prepares for natural language queries

Advanced Options

Handling Multiple Sheets

For Excel workbooks with multiple tabs:

Tip: Summary sheets, pivot tables, and chart sheets often cause issues. Focus on raw data tabs only.

Date Parsing

Scoop handles various date formats:

Best Practice: Use consistent date formats throughout your file.

Character Encoding

If you see garbled characters, re-save your CSV as UTF-8.

Special Characters

Scoop supports non-ASCII characters including:

• International characters (é, ñ, ü, etc.)
• Currency symbols (€, £, ¥)
• Emojis (in data values)

File Preparation Best Practices

Before Uploading

Recommended File Structure

✅ Good Structure:
Row 1: Column Headers
Row 2+: Data rows only

❌ Avoid:
- Multiple header rows
- Merged cells
- Embedded charts
- Footer/total rows
- Blank rows in middle

Optimizing Large Files

For files approaching size limits:

Common Troubleshooting

File Won't Upload

Wrong Header Row Detected

• Open preview options
• Select the correct row as header
• Re-confirm column names

Garbled Characters

1. Open file in Excel or text editor
2. Save As → Choose CSV UTF-8
3. Re-upload the new file

Date Columns Not Detected

Blank Rows/Columns Imported

• In preview, uncheck empty columns
• Scroll to bottom to verify no footer rows
• Check for hidden rows in source file

Data Types Incorrect

After Upload: Next Steps

Immediate Actions

For Recurring Data

If you'll upload updated versions of this file:

See Data Email Ingestion to automate recurring file uploads.

For Multiple Related Files

If you have data in multiple files:

See Blending Datasets to combine files.

Related Topics

• Choose a Data Source - All connection options
• Data Email Ingestion - Automate file ingestion
• Best Practices for Source Reports - Optimize your data
• Adding Calculated Columns - Enhance uploaded data
• Snapshot Datasets - Track changes over time