Preparing files

Most results arrive as a table from an analyzer, middleware or spreadsheet. To import it, see Importing a file. To type results instead, see Entering data.

Accepted sources and limits#

Save .xls and .xlsm files as .xlsx first, or as CSV.

One table per study, one row per result#

• One row per measured result. Each replicate, day and instrument reading gets its own row. Move replicates in side-by-side columns, such as Rep1 and Rep2, onto separate rows. The import can also do this for numbered columns; it asks how to read them.
• One column per kind of information, such as specimen ID, result, level, day, run and replicate.
• One study per table. A precision study and a method comparison for the same analyte need two tables and two studies.
• Only the data. Remove totals, averages, merged cells and blank columns. Title or note lines above the heading row are skipped.

Method comparison and qualitative agreement put both methods' results for a specimen in one row, in two columns. The column reference lists the columns for each study type.

specimen_id,result,level,day,run,replicate
QC-001,99.2,1,1,1,1
QC-001,100.4,1,1,1,2
QC-001,98.7,1,1,1,3

Blank lines are skipped. Blank cells are flagged. See Missing and censored values.

The header row#

Put the headings in one row directly above the results. Without headings, columns are named Column 1, Column 2 and so on, and you choose each column's use under Adjust columns.

• Recognized headings such as specimen_id, Sample ID, Result, Level, Day, Run, Replicate, Lot or Instrument are recognized for you. See the full list. If two columns fit the same field, you choose.
• A unit in brackets, such as Result (mg/dL) or Result [mmol/L], fills in a new study's unit. Imported into an existing study, it must match that study's unit. See Units.

CSV and TSV files#

• Save as text with one delimiter throughout: comma, semicolon or tab. The delimiter is found for you.
• Quote a value that contains the delimiter, such as "1,234.5". Unquoted, it splits into two columns.
• With decimal commas, use semicolons or tabs so that 4,56 stays one value.

If the columns don't line up under First rows as they will be imported in the dialog, re-export with quoted values. See Import problems.

Excel workbooks#

• One worksheet at a time. The sheet that was open when the workbook was last saved is read first. When the workbook has more than one sheet, the dialog lists them under Worksheet; choose the one you want.
• Formulas come in as text and their rows are flagged. Use Paste values in Excel first.
• Numeric cells keep their value, written in the study's convention. 1.5 becomes 1,5 in a decimal-comma study. A cell formatted as a percentage is read at the scale it shows: a cell showing 12.5% comes in as 12.5. Use one percentage format for a column.
• Leading zeros need text cells. Excel stores 001 as the number 1. Format ID columns as Text, or use CSV.
• Dates come in as text, such as 2026-09-01T00:00:00.

Start from a template#

Blank template (CSV), at the top of a study's Set up and Data stages, gives the right headings without example results; carryover also includes its 21 prepared positions and roles. Templates and downloads lists them all.

Checklist before you import#

1. For an existing study, analyte, unit, matrix and instrument are filled in on Set up.
2. Numeric convention matches how the file writes numbers.
3. One header row and one row per result, with no totals or notes.
4. Specimen IDs are coded, and formatted as text if they have leading zeros.
5. Results are plain numbers or declared categories. Correct or exclude <0.5, >1000 or hemolyzed before calculating.
6. The file has one analyte, matrix, instrument and unit, or you are ready to split it. See Files that mix analytes, matrices, instruments or units.