Open Data Blend Docs
  • Introduction
  • Open Data Blend Datasets
    • Datasets
    • Dataset Versions
    • Dataset UI
    • Dataset API
    • Frictionless Data Compatibility
    • Modelling Conventions
    • Loading Data Files in Excel
    • Loading Data Files in Power BI Desktop
    • Loading Data Files in Tableau Desktop
    • Loading Data Files in Python
    • Loading Data Files in R
    • Loading Data Files in Other Tools
  • Open Data Blend Analytics
    • Analytics
    • Analytics Queries
    • Analytics Users
    • Connecting from Excel
    • Connecting from Power BI Desktop
    • Connecting from Tableau Desktop
    • Connecting from Other Tools
  • Open Data Blend Insights
    • Insights
    • Report Drill Throughs
    • Report Drill Downs
  • Subscription Management
    • Subscription Portal
    • Managing Analytics Users
    • Managing Access Keys
    • Updating Payment Details
Powered by GitBook
On this page
  • Supported Formats
  • Download the Data Files
  • Loading Compressed (Gzip) CSV Data Files
  • Using Excel for Data Analysis

Was this helpful?

  1. Open Data Blend Datasets

Loading Data Files in Excel

PreviousModelling ConventionsNextLoading Data Files in Power BI Desktop

Last updated 8 months ago

Was this helpful?

The instructions on this page are based on Excel 2019.

Supported Formats

Excel 2013 (or later) on Windows can load compressed CSV (csv.gz) data files through Power Query into a Power Pivot (also known as the Excel 'Data Model').

All versions of Excel can load uncompressed CSV data files without using Power Query, but this is not recommended for large data files.

We only recommend using Excel with the large data files if you intend to use Power Query to load the data directly into , which is designed to handle millions of rows. Once loaded into Power Pivot, the data can be analysed using PivotTables and PivotCharts.

Download the Data Files

Download and save the data files to a suitable location. In the examples that follow, the data has been saved to C:\data.

Although you could load data files directly from the data file URLs, this is not recommended because you may quickly hit usage limits or incur additional costs. We always recommend saving the files locally or to cloud storage first using the Open Data Blend Dataset UI, Open Data Blend Dataset API, or .

Loading Compressed (Gzip) CSV Data Files

You can use the below steps as a guide on how you can load compressed (Gzip) data files in Excel.

Navigate to the 'Data' tab in the Excel ribbon and click Get Data > From Other Sources > Blank Query to create a new blank query.

Use the Advanced Editor to add a Power Query M expression like the following to the blank query. This will allow the compressed (Gzip) data file to be loaded directly.

let
    Source = Binary.Decompress(File.Contents("C:\data\date\date.csv.gz"), Compression.GZip),
    #"Imported CSV" = Csv.Document(Source,[Delimiter=",", Encoding=1252, QuoteStyle=QuoteStyle.None])
in
    #"Imported CSV"

Note that the Power Query M expression explicitly applies Gzip decompression in the 'Source' step. Without this, Power Query is not able to read the compressed (Gzip) data file directly.

Click 'Done' on the Advanced Editor window and a preview of the data should appear.

Apply the 'Use First Row as Header' transformation and rename the query to something appropriate.

Click Close & Load > Close & Load to... and ensure that you have 'Only Create Connection' selected and the 'Add this data to the Data Model' checkbox ticked.

Using Excel for Data Analysis

Guidance on how to analyse data in Excel is beyond the scope of this documentation. You may find the following external links helpful:

What is Power Query?
Get started with Power Pivot in Microsoft Excel
Power Pivot
Open Data Blend for Python