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Moving Data Into and Out of Raycaster

Raycaster provides powerful tools for importing external data into your workspace and exporting your enriched data for use in other systems, making it easy to integrate with your existing workflows.

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Importing Data

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CSV Import

The most common way to bring data into Raycaster is through CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files:

1

Access Import Function

Open the sheet where you want to import data and click the “Import” button in the toolbar

2

Upload CSV

Upload File: Click “Select File” to select a CSV file from your device Choose if duplicate rows should be removed

3

Map Columns

In the column mapping screen:

  • Match columns from your CSV to columns in your sheet
  • Use the dropdowns to select the appropriate destination column
  • Use “Skip Column” for data you don’t want to import in the drop down
  • Add new columns if needed from the drop down
4

Review and Confirm

Check the preview of how your data will be imported

  • Verify column mappings are correct
  • Ensure data appears as expected
  • Check for any errors or warnings
5

Start Import

Click “Import Data” to begin the process

  • A progress indicator will show the status
  • When complete, you’ll see a summary of rows imported

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CSV File Requirements

For best results, ensure your CSV files meet these requirements:

  • The first row must contain column headers
  • For Company sheets: Include domain or URL in standard format (e.g., “company.com” or “company.org”)
  • For People sheets: Include LinkedIn URLs in standard format (“linkedin.com/in/username”)
  • Use UTF-8 encoding to support special characters
  • Avoid merged cells, formulas, or other spreadsheet-specific features

Enrichment processes run in the background, so you can continue working with your data while research completes. New information will appear as it becomes available.

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Import Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during import:

ProblemSolution
Missing required columnsEnsure your CSV includes all columns marked as required in the mapping phase
Data format issuesCheck that dates, numbers, and other special formats match what Raycaster expects
Import fails or times outTry breaking larger files into smaller batches for import
Column mapping confusionUse the preview feature to verify mappings before confirming the import
Character encoding problemsSave your CSV with UTF-8 encoding before importing

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Exporting Data

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CSV Export

The standard way to export data from Raycaster:

1

Access Export Function

Click the “Export” button in the toolbar of the sheet you want to export

2

Start Export

Click “Export” to generate and download the file

  • Large exports may take a few moments to prepare
  • Your browser will automatically download the file when ready

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Exporting Selected Rows

To export a specific subset of data:

  1. Use filters to show only the data you want to export
  2. Click “Export” to download only the selected data

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Handling Large Datasets

Raycaster is optimized for handling large amounts of data:

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Import Strategies for Large Files

For very large datasets (thousands of rows):

  1. Split into batches: Import 500-1000 rows at a time for better performance
  2. Staged enrichment: Import all data first, then run research in batches
  3. Prioritize columns: Select only the most important columns for initial research

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Export Strategies for Large Files

When exporting large datasets:

  1. Filter before export: Narrow down to just the data you need
  2. Select essential columns: Export only the columns you require
  3. Consider summary-only exports: Skip detailed research data if not needed
  4. Use the background export option: For very large exports (automatic for large sheets)

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Data Integration Best Practices

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Preparing Data for Import

Before importing data:

  1. Clean your spreadsheet by removing duplicate entries
  2. Standardize formats (dates, numbers, URLs, etc.)
  3. Split complex columns into simpler ones if needed
  4. Ensure company domains and LinkedIn URLs follow standard formats
  5. Create a backup of your original data

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Workflow Integration

Integrate Raycaster with your existing workflows:

  1. CRM Integration: Export enriched data for import into your CRM system
  2. Regular Updates: Schedule routine imports to keep data fresh
  3. Collaborative Analysis: Share exports with team members who don’t have Raycaster access
  4. Data Verification Loop: Export, verify with stakeholders, then re-import corrections