---
title: "Opening the file in Excel or Sheets — RatingTheRaces Support"
description: "How to open your RatingTheRaces CSV or XLS export in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers, and fix the odd column that imports in the wrong number format."
url: https://ratingtheraces.com/downloads-data/open-in-excel/
date_modified: "2026-07-08"
---

[Help Centre](https://ratingtheraces.com/support/) / [Downloads & Data](https://ratingtheraces.com/downloads-data/) /Opening the file in Excel or Sheets

# Opening the file in Excel or Sheets

How-to premium / professional new

Both the CSV and XLS exports open in any mainstream spreadsheet. Here's how to open each cleanly and tidy up the occasional column that imports oddly.

Once you've [downloaded a race card](https://ratingtheraces.com/downloads-data/download-ratings/), opening it is straightforward in any spreadsheet. A couple of small quirks are worth knowing so the columns line up the way you expect.

## Opening the file

-   **Excel**, double-click an **XLS** file to open the formatted workbook directly. For a **CSV**, Excel opens it too, though very occasionally it needs a hand with column formats (below).
-   **Google Sheets**, use **File, Import** and upload the file, CSV works especially cleanly here.
-   **Numbers (Mac)**, open either format directly.

## If a column looks wrong

Spreadsheets sometimes guess a column's type and get it slightly wrong on import. The usual suspects:

-   **A time or figure read as a date.** If a value has turned into a date, format that column back to **text** or **number**. Importing a CSV via your spreadsheet's import dialog (rather than a straight open) lets you set the column type up front and avoids this.
-   **Leading zeros dropped.** Set the column to **text** before importing if you need them kept.

Taking the **XLS** export sidesteps most of this, since the formatting travels with the workbook. Reach for **CSV** when you want the raw values to feed into your own model or scripts.

## Making sense of the columns

For what each heading means once the file's open, keep the [ratings columns reference](https://ratingtheraces.com/understanding-the-ratings/ratings-columns-reference/) to hand.

File won't open, or looks empty or out of date? See [My download hasn't updated](https://ratingtheraces.com/downloads-data/download-not-updating/).

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### Download the ratings as CSV or XLS

Export a full race card from RatingTheRaces as a CSV or XLS file so you can study the ratings in Excel or your own spreadsheet. A Premium and Pro feature.

](https://ratingtheraces.com/downloads-data/download-ratings/)[

### When do the downloads refresh?

Your RatingTheRaces download always reflects the latest published ratings; the files rebuild through the day, so a later export picks up the newest data.

](https://ratingtheraces.com/downloads-data/download-refresh/)[

### My download hasn't updated

If your RatingTheRaces XLS or CSV download looks out of date or won't open, these quick checks, a fresh export and a cache clear, sort almost every case.

](https://ratingtheraces.com/downloads-data/download-not-updating/)