# Most stable file format for Dynamo input-Excel, CSV, XML?

**URL:** <https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522>\
**Category:** Revit\
**Tags:** excel, dynamo, csv, xml\
**Created:** [March 28, 2018, 10:28am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522 "2018-03-28T10:28:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PAnand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@PAnand](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PAnand)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 10:28am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522/1 "2018-03-28T10:28:22Z")

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Dear All,  
I am trying to create points in dynamo by importing coordinates. What is the most stable file format for the input as per your experience?  
Thanks !

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**Author:** ![Andrew\_Hannell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/andrew_hannell/32/103315_2.png) [@Andrew\_Hannell](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Andrew_Hannell)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 11:07am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522/2 "2018-03-28T11:07:59Z")

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It doesn’t really matter- I’d say both are stable. CSV is certainly simplest.

Generating the points is not very intensive- but generating geometry, inserting families etc based on the points might be, particularly if you have a very large quantity.

Andrew

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**Author:** ![PAnand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@PAnand](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PAnand)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 7:24am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522/3 "2018-03-29T07:24:32Z")

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Thanks for your response. Are there any problems known by using excel format?  
Any experiences with files not being read properly etc?

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**Author:** ![PauLtus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paultus/32/48502_2.png) [@PauLtus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PauLtus)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 7:26am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522/4 "2018-03-29T07:26:57Z")

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Excel has been working fine for me.

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**Author:** ![Jonathan.Olesen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/jonathan.olesen/32/44242_2.png) [@Jonathan.Olesen](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Jonathan.Olesen)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522/5 "2018-03-29T18:10:46Z")

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The advantage of using .csv rather than excel is that dynamo doesn’t need to open an external program (excel) which in my opinion is nice and saves time.

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**Author:** ![PAnand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@PAnand](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PAnand)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 7:33am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522/6 "2018-04-03T07:33:58Z")

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Thanks, but would it work with multiple tabs?

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**Author:** ![Jonathan.Olesen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/jonathan.olesen/32/44242_2.png) [@Jonathan.Olesen](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Jonathan.Olesen)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 8:28am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/most-stable-file-format-for-dynamo-input-excel-csv-xml/20522/7 "2018-04-03T08:28:44Z")

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There are no tabs in .csv, only rows and columns, the illusion of tabs could be created using multiple .csv files.