Preparing CSV file

File types

Important

For best results, CSV files must be comma delimited and comply to the UTF-8 standard. Custom delimiter and encodings might work, see the Advanced Header in the CSV Import panel.

../_images/ch_csv_sample_a.png

Sample CSV Spreadsheet

../_images/ch_csv_sample_b.png

Sample CSV Text

Data types

ChArtist is able to distinguish data types per column. Value and text types supported are:

  • String (text)

  • Integer (-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3)

  • Float (0.314, -50.8045, 5.5)

Important

Do not mix data types per column (field). Mixing data types will result in values being interpreted as a string (text). This will result in values not being read correctly, or the importer will result in an error.

Required fields

At a minimum your CSV file should contain a name field and a value field.

Name field

  • The sample data above uses “Food Item” as the name field.

  • The name field is needed to map data and also to identify datapoint instances in the chart.

  • The values in each record must be unique.

Value field

  • The value field is used to visualize data, either by modifying datapoint/area object geometry, materials, shaders, or transforms.

  • The values in each record does not have to be unique.

  • Value types supported are float or integer. Boolean values will try to convert to 0,1, but might not be successful.

  • The sample data above could use any of the fields as the value, except the “Food Item” field.