Excel and spreadsheet sample data generator

Build a useful sample table

Start with a Row Number or UUID, then add dimensions such as customer, country, product and department. Add numeric measures such as quantity and price plus a Date or Datetime column for trends. A controlled Custom List works well for order status, channel or region.

CSV or TSV?

• CSV is the safest download when a workbook, BI tool or import wizard expects a file. Values containing commas, quotes or newlines are escaped automatically.
• TSV is convenient for copying raw output and pasting directly into Excel or Google Sheets because each tab becomes a new column.

Import cleanly

Keep the header row enabled. Import as UTF-8 so international names and city values remain intact. Tell the spreadsheet whether the delimiter is a comma or tab, then set date and decimal interpretations explicitly when regional settings differ from the exported representation.

Test missing and messy-looking data

Apply Blank % to optional columns instead of filling every cell. Use longer names, addresses and product descriptions to expose clipping in reports. Generate several currencies or statuses with Custom List, but keep each column semantically consistent so formulas and charts remain meaningful.

Example sales schema

order_id      Row Number
order_date    Date (sequential)
customer      Full Name
country       Country
product       Product Name
quantity      Integer (1–8)
unit_price    Price (5–500)
status        Custom List

Spreadsheet checklist

• Headers are short, unique and formula-friendly.
• Date and number columns use one consistent format.
• Blank rates reflect the scenario being demonstrated.
• A seed keeps tutorial screenshots and expected totals stable.
• The sample contains enough rows for filters and pivot tables, but not more than the workbook needs.

For bulk database imports, continue with the database seeding guide. For how values are generated and kept private, read the methodology.