Local Browser Processing and Data Privacy
When converting tabular data, maintaining control over your files is a key consideration. This tool processes your table files directly in your web browser. Whether you are working with CSV, JSON, or XLSX formats, all parsing, restructuring, and file generation occur locally on your device.
Because the conversion is executed entirely within the client-side environment, your data is not uploaded to BroBroGo. This local execution model ensures that your file contents remain on your machine throughout the entire conversion process.
Supported Input and Output Formats
The converter handles three primary data exchange formats, allowing you to transition between them based on your workflow requirements. You can load a single file at a time into the tool. The input format is automatically detected upon selection, and you can choose your desired output format from the available options:
- CSV (Comma-Separated Values): A plain-text format that represents tabular data by separating values with a specific character.
- JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A text-based data interchange format structured as collections of name/value pairs or ordered lists of values.
- Excel (XLSX): A spreadsheet format used by Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet applications to store structured tabular data.
To perform a conversion, you select or drag your file into the interface, choose an output format different from the input, and initiate the process. If you attempt to convert a file to its existing format, the tool displays the error "Choose a different output format.".
CSV Delimiter Options
In CSV files, the delimiter is the specific character used to separate individual data fields within a row. Different systems and regions rely on different default delimiters to parse text files correctly. This tool allows you to specify the delimiter when converting your data into a CSV file.
You can choose from three standard delimiter options:
- Comma: The standard separator (
,) used in default CSV files. - Semicolon: A separator (
;) frequently used in European locales where the comma serves as a decimal separator. - Tab: A tab character separator, often used to create Tab-Separated Values (TSV) files.
Specifying the correct delimiter ensures that the resulting plain-text file aligns with the import requirements of your target database, spreadsheet software, or data analysis pipeline.
Structural Rules and JSON Flattening
Converting data between hierarchical formats like JSON and flat tabular formats like CSV or Excel requires specific structural transformations. The tool applies a consistent set of rules to map these different data models:
- JSON to Table Conversion: When converting a JSON file, arrays of objects are mapped directly to table rows, where the object keys serve as the column headers. Arrays of arrays are preserved as table rows.
- Flattening Nested Objects: If a JSON object contains nested objects, the nested keys are flattened into a single row using dot paths (for example,
parent.child.key) to represent the hierarchy in a flat table structure. - Excel to Table Conversion: When converting from an Excel file, the tool extracts data exclusively from the first worksheet.
If the input JSON is not structured as an array of objects or an array of arrays, or if the file contains syntax errors, the tool will display the error "This JSON is invalid or not table-shaped.".
Limitations of Spreadsheet and Plain Text Conversions
Converting files between rich spreadsheet formats and plain-text formats involves certain trade-offs due to the inherent differences in how these formats store information.
- No Formula Calculation: The converter reads and extracts only the visible values from the first worksheet of an Excel file. It does not evaluate, calculate, or preserve formulas.
- Loss of Cell Styling: Visual formatting, including cell background colors, font styles, borders, merged cells, and custom alignment, is not preserved during conversion. The output is strictly limited to raw tabular data.
- Single Worksheet Limit: Only the first worksheet of an XLSX workbook is processed. Data stored on subsequent sheets is ignored.
Understanding these limitations ensures that you can prepare your source files appropriately, ensuring that the visible values in your spreadsheet reflect the exact data you wish to export.
Error Handling and File Constraints
To ensure stable performance within the browser, the tool enforces specific limits on file size and table dimensions. If a file violates these constraints or contains structural anomalies, the tool will halt the process and display one of the following error messages:
| Error Message | Cause |
|---|---|
| "Choose one file first." | Attempting to convert without selecting a file. |
| "Choose a CSV, JSON or XLSX file." | Uploading an unsupported file format. |
"This file is too large. Use a file under {max}." |
The selected file exceeds the maximum allowed file size. |
| "Could not convert this file." | General conversion failure. |
| "This CSV could not be parsed." | The input CSV file contains formatting errors that prevent parsing. |
| "This Excel file could not be opened." | The XLSX file is corrupted or unreadable. |
| "This file has no table rows." | The input file contains no valid tabular data rows. |
"This table has more than {max} rows." |
The table exceeds the maximum row limit. |
"This table has more than {max} columns." |
The table exceeds the maximum column limit. |
| "Conversion cancelled." | The user aborted the conversion process. |
| "This conversion is taking too long. Try a smaller file." | The browser execution timed out during processing. |
Upon a successful conversion, the tool displays the output file size along with the exact count of "Rows" and "Columns" in the resulting table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my spreadsheets uploaded?
No. CSV, JSON and XLSX files are parsed in your browser, and the download is generated locally.
Does it preserve Excel formulas and formatting?
No. This tool converts the visible values from the first worksheet into a clean table. It does not calculate formulas or preserve cell styling.
How is JSON converted to a table?
Arrays of objects become rows, object keys become columns, and nested object keys are flattened with dot paths. Arrays of arrays are kept as table rows.