---
title: What does the input file have to look like?
description: "Note: The max. character length in one cell is 2000. Text longer than 2000 characters will be truncated. 4.  If your data contains a date column (this can be used to create the timeline chart) please"
---

[Skip to content](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/what-does-the-input-file-have-to-look-like#main-content)

English

Show submenu for translations

[More support](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en)

![symanto logo.svg\]](https://help.symanto.com/hubfs/symanto%20logo.svg)

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://symanto-4638210.hs-sites.com/blog)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://symanto-4638210.hs-sites.com/blog)
- English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- [More support](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new)
- [Go to Symanto Insights Platform](https://app.symanto.com/)

[Go to Symanto Insights Platform](https://app.symanto.com/)

 Welcome! How can we help?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Symanto Insights Platform - Help Center](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge?hsLang=en)
2. [FAQ's](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en)
3. [Project Creation](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#project-creation)

# What does the input file have to look like?

1. The file for the 'File Upload' should be an **Excel** file (in “.xlsx” format) or **CSV** (in ".csv" format)
2. All your data must be in the **first sheet**
3. The first data row should contain the column names

![](https://help.symanto.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Mar-29-2021-08-27-48-84-AM.png?width=688&name=image-png-Mar-29-2021-08-27-48-84-AM.png)

Note: The max. character length in one cell is 2000. Text longer than 2000 characters will be truncated.

4.  If your data contains a date column (this can be used to create the timeline chart) please ensure there is only one date column and the date format looks like one of these formats:  
**d.M.yyyy**  
**dd.MM.yy**  
**d.M.yy**  
**dd.MM.yyyy**

*The 'text' column is the column that is being analyzed.  
Any other columns are being used as filters, e.g. a date range, different languages, star ratings, product names, brands, different sources (e.g. Amazon and Trustpilot), or specific questions.*

- [Getting Started](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Symanto Insights Platform](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#symanto-insights-platform)
    - [Sign Up & Login](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#sign-up-login)
    - [Data Collection](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#data-collection)
    - [Project Creation](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#project-creation)
    - [Data Security](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#data-security)
- [Understand our Text Analytics](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/understand-our-text-analytics?hsLang=en)
- [Exploring Insights](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Overview](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#overview)
    - [Topic & Sentiment Detection](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#topic-sentiment-detection)
    - [Sentiment Analysis](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#sentiment-analysis)
    - [Personality Traits](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#personality-traits)
    - [Psychographic Segments](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#psychographic-segments)
    - [Brand Recommendation](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#brand-recommendation)
    - [Communication Style](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#communication-style)
    - [Ekman Emotions](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#ekman-emotions)
    - [Rating Impact Analysis](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/exploring-insights?hsLang=en#rating-impact-analysis)
- [Symanto Insights Assistant](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/symanto-insights-assistant?hsLang=en#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [FAQs](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/symanto-insights-assistant?hsLang=en#faqs)
- [Account & Billing](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/account-billing?hsLang=en#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [Account](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/account-billing?hsLang=en#account)
    - [Credits](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/account-billing?hsLang=en#credits)
- [FAQ's](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#main-content)
  
  
  
  
  
    - [All around the platform](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#all-around-the-platform)
    - [Data Collection](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#data-collection)
    - [Data Collection Service](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#data-collection-service)
    - [Project Creation](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#project-creation)
    - [Use Cases](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#use-cases)
    - [Exploring Results](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#exploring-results)
    - [Credits](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#credits)
    - [Pricing](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#pricing)
    - [Payment](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#payment)
    - [Account](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#account)
    - [Data Security](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#data-security)
    - [Data Export](https://help.symanto.com/knowledge/faqs?hsLang=en#data-export)

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://symanto-4638210.hs-sites.com/blog)

[![Chill listening crop-3](https://help.symanto.com/hs-fs/hubfs/symanto%20logo-1.png?width=82&height=24&name=symanto%20logo-1.png "Chill listening crop-3")](http://symanto.net)

Copyright © 2026, Symanto Research GmbH & Co. KG