--- title: Prepare a supported data file for import description: Supported file format options for Data import --- [![EKO Q](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EKO%20Q%20Logo%201-2.png?height=75&width=248&name=EKO+Q+Logo+1-2.png)](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base?hsLang=en) EU | A | あ ⌄ English Deutsch Português Español [EKO website](https://eko-instruments.com) [EKO Q](https://eko-q.eko-instruments.com) [Contact us](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1MNfi6yWgQ6ab174lgwH9XA2eqp93) Search # How can we help you? Your browser does not support the video tag. [Skip to content](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/import-data-supported-file-formats#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![EKO Q Logo 1-2](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EKO%20Q%20Logo%201-2.png?width=248&height=75&name=EKO%20Q%20Logo%201-2.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1MNfi6yWgQ6ab174lgwH9XA2eqp93) [Contact us](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1MNfi6yWgQ6ab174lgwH9XA2eqp93) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge base](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base?hsLang=en) 2. [Import and check data](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/import-and-check-data?hsLang=en) # Prepare a supported data file for import ## Key settings for smooth importing CSV data files EKO Q offers flexible capabilities for data file import: 1. Standard CSV (text) files with column separation. 2. Automated CSV formatting detection. 3. Customisable CSV formatting via **Interactive Data Import Assistant** (available for users of Advanced plan). ### 1. Standard Data File Format Industry-standard CSV file format with the following requirements ensures the smoothest data import. Use the example files as reference: #### Example files: 1\. Irradiance data for single sensor. Timestamp in UTC. [GHI, UTC time.csv](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/hubfs/CSV/GHI%2c%20UTC%20time.csv?hsLang=en)`` ``` timestamp_UTC;GHI2025-05-24 00:00:00;-0.42025-05-24 00:01:00;-0.32025-05-24 00:02:00;-0.3... ``` 2\. Irradiance data for single sensor. Timestamps following ISO 8601. [GHI, tz-aware.csv](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/hubfs/CSV/GHI%2c%20tz-aware.csv?hsLang=en)`` ``` timestamp_local;GHI2025-05-23T15:25:00+0200;534.8172025-05-23T15:30:00+0200;454.1722025-05-23T15:35:00+0200;387.389... ``` 3\. File with irradiance data for multiple sensors, with column names matching sensor names in EKO Q. Timestamp in UTC. [Multiple columns, UTC.csv](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/hubfs/CSV/Multiple%20columns%2c%20UTC.csv?hsLang=en) `` ``` timestamp_UTC;GHI;McClear_GHI;CAMS_GHI2025-05-24 00:00:00;-0.4;0.0;0.02025-05-24 00:01:00;-0.3;0.0;0.02025-05-24 00:02:00;-0.3;0.0;0.0... ``` ### Format Details ***Note****: Data formatting is expected the same for the entire data file.* | **Parameter** | **Recommended format** | **Options** | | --- | --- | --- | | **General file structure** | | | | File extension | .csv | .csv .txt .dat | | File size | \< 10 MB | Maximumm 50 MB | | Time period length | 21 days minimum, 3 years maximum (see [knowledge base](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/supported-time-period?hsLang=en)) | | | Column delimiter | Semicolon (";") | Semicolon (;) Comma (,) | | Column names location | In the first row | | | Column order | Timestamp column, followed by one column with numeric values | Timestamp column, followed by one or multiple columns with numeric values. Target column name matches the sensor name | | **Timestamp formatting** | | | | Timestamp column | The first column contains date and time for each row | | | Timestamp format | "YYYY-mm-ddTHH:MM:SS±zzzz" Example: "2025-12-31T13:15:00+0100" | - Date and time separated by by "T" or by space ( ) \- Time with or without seconds (HH:MM:SS or HH:MM) Time zone-aware or naïve | | Time zone of timestamps | Explicitly specified as ±hhmm at each timestamp | - Explicitly specified as ±hhmm at each timestamp \- Implicit, specified at data import as UTC or local time inferred based site location | | Interval sampling convention | Left (start of the interval) | | | **Measurements values** | | | | Columns | Single column with irradiance values | Multiple columns, with names matching the sensor names configured in EKO Q | | Decimal point | Dot (.) | - Dot (.) \- Comma (,) | | Thousand separators | None | | | Units of measure for irradiance | W/m2 | | ### 2. Automated CSV formatting detection If the data does not match standard formatting, EKO Q offers automated format detection using commonly used options of CSV file formatting. ### 3. Interactive Data Import Assistant The interactive assistant allows you to describe the custom formats used in your data file. It supports the following customisation. - Custom column delimiter - Header rows to skip - Footer rows to skip - Multiple columns containing separate parts of the timestamp - Decimal separator - Value column to import The interactive assistant is only available to users of **Advanced** plan. If you need help onboarding a custom data file, please refere to: [Import a custom data file.](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/eko-q/custom-data-file-upload?hsLang=en) After importing your data, the next step is to verify your data file by running a sensor data configuration check: [Run a sensor data configuration check](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/eko-q/configuration-check?hsLang=en). `` - [Start here](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/start-here?hsLang=en) - [Set up your EKO Q workspace](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/set-up-your-eko-q-workspace?hsLang=en) - [Import and check data](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/import-and-check-data?hsLang=en) - [Run analysis](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/run-analysis?hsLang=en) - [Understand reports and plots](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/understand-reports-and-plots?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Report overview](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/understand-reports-and-plots?hsLang=en#report-overview) - [Test Summary](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/understand-reports-and-plots?hsLang=en#test-summary) - [Detailed Report and plots](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/understand-reports-and-plots?hsLang=en#detailed-report-and-plots) - [Troubleshooting and limits](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/troubleshooting-and-limits?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Upload troubleshooting](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/troubleshooting-and-limits?hsLang=en#upload-troubleshooting) - [Plans, limits, and coverage](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/knowledge-base/troubleshooting-and-limits?hsLang=en#plans-limits-and-coverage) [![Logo\_primary logo+tagline\_email size\_RGB](https://eko-support.eko-instruments.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo_primary%20logo+tagline_email%20size_RGB.png?width=194&height=43&name=Logo_primary%20logo+tagline_email%20size_RGB.png "Logo_primary logo+tagline_email size_RGB")](http://eko-instruments.com) [eko-instruments.com](https://eko-instruments.com/) Copyright © 2025, eu.eko-instruments.com ![EKO Instruments](https://eko-instruments.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EKO-footer-logo.svg) ## Contact & Customer Support - E: eko-q@eko-instruments.com Certificates: ![ASTM certificate](https://eko-instruments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/astm-cert.svg) ![ISO certificate](https://eko-instruments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/iso-cert.svg) ![IEC certificate](https://eko-instruments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/iec-cert.svg) ![HMEI certificate](https://eko-instruments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/hmei-cert.svg) © 2026 EKO Instruments Co., Ltd. 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