Connect to CSV data source

To use CSV data in Bold Reports®, create a CSV data source that retrieves data from CSV and text files, or from an external URL.

How do I create a CSV data source?

To create a CSV data source in the Bold Reports® Web Report Designer, open the Data configuration panel and choose the CSV connection type.

  1. Click the Data icon in the configuration panel. Data icon configuration panel
  2. In the DATA configuration panel, click the NEW DATA button. New Data Panel
  3. In the connection type panel, choose the CSV data source type. Connection types panel
  4. Specify the data source name without special characters in the Name field. CSV datasource properties

You can connect CSV data using the following two options:

  • File Path - Load from disk.
  • External - Load from external URL.

Source types

Load from disk

To load a CSV file from disk in the Bold Reports® Web Report Designer, upload the file and connect.

  1. Choose the File option in the Type field. The upload option appears, as shown in the following image. New connection panel
  2. Click the three-dotted button to open the upload box. Browse the CSV file and click open. New connection panel
  3. If your data contains headers, enable the Consider the first row as header option to treat them as headers.
  4. Use Separator based on the type of file uploaded. For the list of supported separators, see CSV separators. New connection panel
  5. Click Connect to open the query design pane. The query design pane shows the specified CSV data’s structure in the left pane. Left schema
  6. Drag and drop the table from the left pane in the query design view page and execute. New connection panel
  7. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name and continue designing the report. New connection panel

Load from external URL

To load CSV data from an external URL in the Bold Reports® Web Report Designer, specify the URL and connect.

  1. Choose the External option in the Type field. New connection panel
  2. Specify an external URL in the External text area. New connection panel
  3. If your data contains headers, enable the Consider the first row as header option to treat them as headers.
  4. Use Separator based on the type of file uploaded. For the list of supported separators, see CSV separators. New connection panel
  5. Click Connect to open the query design pane. The query design pane shows the specified CSV data’s structure in the left pane. Left schema
  6. Drag and drop the table from the left pane in the query design view page and execute. New connection panel
  7. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name and continue designing the report. New connection panel

Separator

The Bold Reports® CSV data source uses the Separator setting based on the type of file uploaded. Available options are listed under the separator drop-down.

Separator list

To set a custom delimiter, choose the Custom option in the separator drop-down.

Separator list

In the delimiter textbox, enter the required delimiter. The data is retrieved from the data source based on that delimiter.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I load CSV data from?

You can load CSV data from disk with the File Path option or from an external URL with the External option.

Can I use a custom delimiter for CSV files?

Yes. Choose the Custom option in the separator drop-down and enter the required delimiter in the delimiter textbox.

See also