Sample Excel Files Online
Sample rows from Excel files — first N, last N, or random — directly in your browser.
How to sample Excel files
- Drop your file onto the upload area. It is loaded into the in-browser engine and the first 200 rows are shown.
- Pick a Method: First takes rows from the top, Last takes rows from the bottom, and Random picks rows from anywhere in the file.
- Enter the Number of rows you want. The default is 100.
- Click Sample. The preview shows the sampled rows and how many were taken.
- Click Download to save the sample in the same format you uploaded.
Your file is processed locally in your browser and is never uploaded. The free limit is 50 MB per file; larger files work if your device has the memory for them.
Worked example
A facilities team logs a cold-room temperature every two hours and only needs the latest three readings to check a door alarm.
Input (Excel)
Excel workbook, first sheet (Sheet1)
| reading_at | sensor | temp_c |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-01 00:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 3.8 |
| 2026-08-01 02:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 3.9 |
| 2026-08-01 04:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 4.1 |
| 2026-08-01 06:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 6.7 |
| 2026-08-01 08:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 7.2 |
| 2026-08-01 10:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 4 |
Settings
- Method: Last
- Number of rows: 3
Result
| reading_at | sensor | temp_c |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-01 06:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 6.7 |
| 2026-08-01 08:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 7.2 |
| 2026-08-01 10:00:00 | cold-room-2 | 4 |
Last takes rows by their position in the file, not by the timestamp value. The file has six rows, so asking for three returns rows 4 to 6 in their original order. If the log were not already in time order, sort by reading_at first. Random with the same settings would return three rows from anywhere in the file.
Working with Excel files
Sampling works on the first sheet of the workbook. The header row is read as column names and is never counted as a sample row. Last takes the bottom rows of the sheet. A totals line or a note at the bottom of the sheet counts as a row too, so remove them in Excel first if you want the final real records. Random is useful for spot-checking a large register or audit list without scrolling through it. Hidden rows are still data and can appear in the sample.
The sample is saved as a new .xlsx file with one sheet named Sheet1, containing values only. Formulas are replaced by their last calculated results, which is useful when you need to send a sample without exposing the logic behind it. Dates come out as text, in YYYY-MM-DD form when they loaded as real dates, and formatting such as colours and number formats is not copied. The result is small enough to attach to an email or a ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Excel sample include my totals row?
It can. The tool sees every non-empty row on the sheet as data. If the sheet ends with a totals line, Last will include it, and Random may pick it.
Does the sampled workbook keep formulas?
No. Each formula is replaced by the value it last calculated, and the sample contains values only.
What happens if I ask for more rows than the file has?
You get every row. First and Last return the whole file, and Random returns all rows as well.
Is the random sample the same each time?
No. Every click of Sample draws a new random set, and the rows may not keep their file order. For a repeatable sample, use the SQL Query tool with USING SAMPLE reservoir(N ROWS) REPEATABLE (seed).
What is the difference between Sample and Head or Tail?
First and Last in this tool do the same as Head and Tail. Sample adds the Random method, which spreads the selection across the whole file.
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