Export Support Matrix
Export behaviour depends on the component type and the output format. Use this matrix to choose the right combination for your use case and to understand limitations before distributing formal report packages.
Support levels
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Full | Component renders as intended with all styling and interactivity preserved in static form |
| Good | Component renders correctly; some visual fidelity differences from the report viewer |
| Limited | Component renders in a reduced form — check before distributing |
| Not supported | Component is excluded from this format's output |
Full support matrix
| Component | Excel | Word | CSV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text (plain) | Full | Good | Full | Not supported |
| Text (rich) | Full | Limited | Full | Not supported |
| Heading | Full | Good | Full | Not supported |
| Divider / Separator | Full | Not supported | Good | Not supported |
| Spacer | Full | Not supported | Limited | Not supported |
| Page break | Full | Not supported | Full | Not supported |
| Table (flat) | Full | Full | Good | Full |
| Table (grouped) | Full | Good | Good | Limited |
| Table (with subtotals) | Full | Good | Limited | Limited |
| Matrix | Full | Good | Limited | Limited |
| Pivot table | Full | Good | Limited | Not supported |
| Bar chart | Full | Image | Image | Not supported |
| Line chart | Full | Image | Image | Not supported |
| Area chart | Full | Image | Image | Not supported |
| Scatter chart | Full | Image | Image | Not supported |
| Pie / Donut chart | Full | Image | Image | Not supported |
| Combo chart | Full | Image | Image | Not supported |
| Gantt chart | Full | Image | Limited | Not supported |
| Cash Flow chart | Full | Image | Image | Not supported |
| MTA chart | Full | Image | Image | Not supported |
| KPI card | Full | Limited | Good | Not supported |
| KPI row | Full | Limited | Good | Not supported |
| RAG indicator | Full | Limited | Good | Not supported |
| RAG grid | Full | Limited | Limited | Not supported |
| Gauge | Full | Not supported | Image | Not supported |
| Progress bar | Full | Not supported | Image | Not supported |
| Indicator | Full | Limited | Good | Not supported |
| Image | Full | Image | Full | Not supported |
| Image gallery | Full | Not supported | Limited | Not supported |
| Logo | Full | Not supported | Full | Not supported |
| Cover page | Full | Not supported | Good | Not supported |
| Table of contents | Full | Not supported | Good | Not supported |
| Header / Footer | Full | Not supported | Full | Not supported |
| Page number | Full | Not supported | Full | Not supported |
| Watermark | Full | Not supported | Full | Not supported |
| Signature block | Full | Limited | Full | Not supported |
| Attachment link | Full | Full | Full | Not supported |
| Running aggregate column | Full | Full | Good | Full |
| Conditional formatting | Full | Static only | Static only | Not supported |
| Parameter slicer | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Format-specific guidance
PDF
Best for: Formal report packages, client deliverables, audit packs, PDF/A archiving.
- All components render as they appear in the report viewer.
- Conditional formatting preserves colours (ensure sufficient contrast for print).
- Interactive elements (parameter slicers, drill-down) are rendered in their current selection state — they are not interactive in the PDF.
- Cover pages, headers, footers, page numbers, and watermarks render correctly.
- Image and chart quality: set image resolution to at least 150 DPI for screen distribution, 300 DPI for print.
- Enable Print background in PDF export settings to ensure background colours render (some PDF engines suppress them by default).
Excel
Best for: Data review, downstream analysis, BI tool ingestion, stakeholder self-service exploration.
Tables and data:
- Flat tables export as Excel rows and columns — all data is present and sortable.
- Grouped tables export with group rows as separate rows with a group label column — grouping is not preserved as Excel grouping.
- Subtotal rows export as regular rows (not Excel SUM formulas).
- Running aggregate columns export as calculated values (not Excel running total formulas).
Charts:
- Charts export as embedded images — static snapshots, not Excel charts. The chart image is embedded in a cell above the data.
- For interactive Excel charts, export the underlying table data and rebuild the chart in Excel.
Conditional formatting:
- Exports as static fill colours — not as Excel conditional formatting rules. The exported file will not update when data changes.
KPI and indicator components:
- Export as text values in cells — RAG colours are not preserved as cell fill.
- The KPI value is present; the label/subtitle may appear as an adjacent cell.
Not supported in Excel:
- Cover pages, headers, footers, page numbers, watermarks, separators, spacers, image galleries.
- Gauge, progress bar components.
Word
Best for: Narrative reports, reports that require client editing, draft deliverables for markup.
Text and layout:
- Rich text renders with formatting preserved (bold, italic, lists, tables).
- Page structure (margins, page breaks, headers, footers) transfers correctly.
- Cover pages export as styled Word pages.
Tables:
- Flat tables export as Word tables with column widths approximately matching the output layout.
- Very wide tables (>10 columns) may overflow Word page margins — check before distributing.
Charts:
- Export as embedded images. Charts are not editable in Word.
Limitations:
- Complex multi-column layouts (grid components with mixed components) may shift in Word due to Word's page layout engine.
- Matrix and pivot tables may not render accurately — test before using in formal Word deliverables.
CSV
Best for: Flat data extraction for spreadsheet analysis, data pipelines, integration with other systems.
CSV exports only data — no styling, no charts, no layout components.
| Data type | CSV export |
|---|---|
| Flat table rows | Each row = one CSV row |
| Grouped table rows | Group headers appear as rows with group label in first column |
| Running aggregate columns | Values included |
| Computed field values | Values included (not formulas) |
| Repeating section all rows | All rows exported |
| Non-data components | Not included |
| Multiple sections | Each section is a separate CSV file or separate sheet, depending on configuration |
Conditional formatting in exports
| Export | Conditional formatting |
|---|---|
| Full colour rendering — exactly as in report viewer | |
| Excel | Static colour fill — correct at time of export, does not update |
| Word | Static colour fill on table cells |
| CSV | Not exported |
If you need dynamic conditional formatting in Excel, export the data as CSV and apply Excel's native conditional formatting rules in your Excel template.
Chart export path options
When exporting a template that contains charts, choose the export path in the Template settings → Excel export panel:
| Export path | Description |
|---|---|
| Chart as image (default) | Chart renders as a PNG embedded in the Excel file |
| Chart data as table | The chart's underlying data is exported as a flat table instead of an image |
| Both | Exports both the chart image and the underlying data table |
"Chart data as table" is recommended when downstream users need to rebuild the chart in Excel with their own formatting.
Choosing the right export format
| Scenario | Recommended format |
|---|---|
| Client formal progress report | |
| Internal team data review | Excel |
| Board pack (narrative + KPIs) | |
| Draft for client markup | Word |
| Raw data for BI tool | CSV or Excel (chart data as table) |
| Audit pack (multiple reports) | |
| Submission to client document system | |
| Finance reconciliation | Excel |
| External stakeholder data share | Excel |
Related
- Conditional Formatting — configuring conditional formatting rules
- Publish and Export — generating and downloading outputs
- Batch Edition Operations — bulk PDF export for audit packs
- Output Designer Overview — output template configuration