Hi,
I exported a view to csv file so I could work on it and ID duplicates for some of my data. However, when I compare the csv export with the data in the table, the order of the rows in the csv appears to be random and does not follow the same order in my table. How can I export to csv and maintain the same order I have in my table?
Thanks in advance
Random row order in csv export
Best answer by ScottWorld
Welcome to the community, @Ana_Lara!
This is one of my big pet peeves of Airtable.
Strangely, unlike all other database and spreadsheet systems on the market, Airtable doesn’t actually know what order your records are displayed in — unless you sort or group your records first.
Otherwise, if your records are ungrouped and/or unsorted, and you try to export records, Airtable exports your records in a completely random & unpredictable order.
It’s the gigantic mystery of Airtable as to what sort order your records will be exported in. Or even be displayed in on your screen. It’s literally a total crapshoot.
Some people think that it is “creation order” of the records, but it’s not. It only SOMETIMES displays/exports records in creation order, but the display/export order constantly changes based on what recent sorting and unsorting activity you’ve done in your table.
So, your only solution is to either use the “group” function or the “sort” function, both available on the toolbar. Both of those options should (hopefully) force the export to put your records in the proper order.
If you feel that this behavior should be changed, please submit a feature request in the #show-and-tell:product-suggestions category. You can even reference this discussion to give some additional context.
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