CSV import and export

Your data is yours. Take it out or bring it in at any time, for free.

Export a group

1. Open the group, then the settings icon.
2. Tap Export CSV.

Rata saves a CSV file with each expense and payment. Open it in Google Sheets, Excel or another spreadsheet app. Your device makes the file. The server does not see it.

The file has the format that Import reads (see below). So you can import it again to make a copy of the group, with the same balances.

Import a group

1. Export the group as a CSV file from Rata or from another expense app.
2. In Rata, tap New group on Home, then Import CSV at the top.
3. Tap Pick a file and pick the CSV file.
4. Check the group name.
5. Under Who are you?, tap your name.
6. Save. Rata makes a new group with each expense and payment, and checks that the balances match the file.

Then invite the people to the new group. See Invite people and join.

The file that Rata reads

The file has the columns Date, Description, Category, Cost and Currency, and then one column for each person. Each person's cell is what they paid minus their share. A line "Total balance" at the end is used to check the balances. If Rata cannot read a line, it tells you the line number.

If you see "This file is not a group export", check that you exported one group, not a list of all groups.