Import and Export
The Dynamic Table plugin supports bulk data operations through file-based import and export. Use import to load rows from a spreadsheet, and export to download the table contents for review, backup, or editing.
Navigate to Actions → Plugins → Dynamic Table → Tables, open the table, and go to the Data tab. The import and export buttons are in the top-right area.
Exporting Data
Export Formats
| Format | Use case |
|---|---|
| CSV | Plain text, compatible with any spreadsheet application. |
| Excel | .xlsx file with column headers, suitable for review and re-import. |
How to Export
- Click Export.
- Select the file format: CSV or Excel.
- Optionally enter a file title. If left blank, the table name is used.
- Click Download.
The exported file includes all active columns and all rows. Each row includes its row number and all column values. Metadata columns (created date, updated date) are included for reference.
Importing Data
Import loads rows from a CSV or Excel file into the table. The process has two steps: validate first, then process.
Downloading an Import Template
Before preparing your file, download the import template to get a pre-formatted file with the correct column headers for your table.
- Click Import.
- Click Download Template.
- Open the template in your spreadsheet application.
- Fill in the rows and save the file.
The template includes all active columns in the correct order. Column headers use the internal column names (snake_case).
Step 1 — Validate
- Click Import.
- Upload your CSV or Excel file.
- Click Validate.
The plugin reads the file and checks:
- All required columns are present.
- Column names match the table schema.
- Values match their column types (e.g., a
numbercolumn contains numeric values). - Duplicate rows are detected based on the primary key column (if one is defined).
The validation result shows a preview of the rows to be imported, including any detected issues.
| Validation outcome | What it means |
|---|---|
| Valid | All rows pass schema and type checks. |
| Warnings | Some rows have duplicate primary keys or missing optional values. |
| Errors | Rows contain type mismatches or missing required fields. Errors must be fixed before processing. |
Step 2 — Process
After reviewing the validation preview, choose how to handle duplicate rows (if the table has a primary key column):
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Skip | Rows whose primary key already exists in the table are skipped. Existing rows are not changed. |
| Replace | Rows whose primary key already exists are overwritten with the imported values. |
| Error | The import is rejected if any duplicate primary keys are found. |
If the table has no primary key column, duplicate detection does not apply and all rows are inserted as new records.
Click Process to start the import. The plugin inserts or updates rows in batches. When complete, the data panel refreshes and the new rows are immediately searchable.
Common Import Issues
| Issue | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Column not found | The column name in your file does not match any active column's internal name. |
| Type mismatch | A value in a number or date column is not in the expected format. |
| Required field empty | A row is missing a value for a column marked as required. |
| Duplicate primary key with Error mode | The file contains a key that already exists in the table, and Error mode was selected. |
After Import
Once import is complete:
- New rows are available in the data panel immediately.
- Vector embeddings for all imported rows are generated automatically.
- You can run a test search to verify that imported rows are retrieved correctly.
If the imported data contains searchable columns and search quality seems off, trigger an embedding regeneration to rebuild all vectors.