Bring Excel, CSV, and TXT sales exports together quickly, then apply your presaved ExDesk filter sets to clean the combined data for reporting.
Month-end reporting starts with scattered files
The sales figures arrive in pieces: a workbook from one branch, a CSV from another, and a text export from an older order system. Before anyone can compare regions or discuss performance, someone has to bring those records together.
Copying everything into a spreadsheet can introduce repeated headers, missing rows, and columns in the wrong order. Then the cleanup starts again: remove incomplete records, exclude canceled sales, and prepare the fields the report actually needs.
A repeatable approach uses EmDesk to merge the exports and ExDesk to apply saved cleanup filter sets. Both stages have a reusable setup, so next month begins with agreed rules.
The workflow: Excel + CSV + TXT exports → EmDesk merge → combined file → ExDesk saved filter set → clean monthly reporting data.
Example: combine three regional sales exports
Imagine a distributor preparing its September sales report. Each regional office submits one row per order line, with the same reporting fields.
| Source | Export | Shared fields |
|---|---|---|
| West region | Excel (.xlsx) | Order Date, Order ID, Line ID, Region, SKU, Status, Sales Amount |
| Central region | CSV (.csv) | The same seven fields |
| East region | Delimited text (.txt) | The same seven fields |
The team wants completed September sales, with no missing order identifiers and no repeated order lines. It also wants the same column order every month. Before combining files, agree whether Sales Amount means gross sales, sales after discounts, or another measure, and use one reporting currency.
For this example, each source adds more sales records, so the appropriate operation is a vertical merge: stack the rows into one table. A horizontal join is useful when another export adds fields to existing records, such as product categories matched by SKU. See the related guide on joining files by a shared key without formulas.
Step 1: merge Excel, CSV, and TXT files in EmDesk
- Collect the exports. Keep the original files together in a folder for the reporting month. Check that all expected regions are present.
- Load the files into EmDesk. Its documented inputs include Excel, CSV, and TXT. Check the file previews, especially whether the text export appears as separate columns.
- Choose a vertical merge. EmDesk aligns columns by name. Confirm that equivalent fields have consistent headings; resolve differences such as Sales Amount versus Revenue before relying on the combined table.
- Keep the reporting columns. Include identifiers, dates, region, product, status, and the amount. Retain the line identifier even if it will not appear in the final summary.
- Save the merge configuration. Use a descriptive name such as Regional sales — monthly stack for future exports with the same structure.
- Merge and save. Export a combined XLSX or CSV file, such as sales-september-combined.xlsx.
Check the combined row count against the source counts before cleanup. An unexpected difference is a reason to inspect the merge before proceeding. EmDesk’s product details describe its column controls and reusable merge presets.
Step 2: open the combined file in ExDesk
Open the saved merged file in ExDesk. This file handoff gives the cleanup stage one consolidated input. You can then apply an existing filter set, or build one from the first approved report.
Define the cleanup rules once
Write down the business rules before saving the setup. For the distributor, a useful checklist is:
- Keep the approved reporting fields in a consistent order.
- Include only completed sales.
- Exclude records without an Order ID and investigate what was removed.
- Limit the report to the intended month.
- Remove confirmed repeat records using the agreed order-line identifier.
ExDesk supports column selection, row filters, blank-cell cleanup, duplicate removal, and named Filter Sets. Apply the agreed rules, inspect the result, and save the setup as Monthly sales — approved cleanup. The ExDesk feature guide and FAQ explain these controls.
Choose the duplicate rule carefully. One order can contain several legitimate product lines. Removing duplicates on Order ID alone could discard sales. Use a reliable order-line key; if identifiers repeat between regions, include the source region in the key. The guide on deciding which records count as duplicates explains why the match rule matters.
Review the date range on every run
A preset containing September dates needs its date conditions updated for October. Keep stable cleanup rules separate from month-specific choices where practical. Reusing a setup does not mean the reporting period changes automatically.
Step 3: review and export the monthly report
Compare the clean output with the combined input. Record how many rows were excluded and why. Check a few retained and removed records, then reconcile the sales total with the regional source totals after the agreed exclusions.
For a summary table, ExDesk supports grouping and pivot summaries, including Sum. A regional view can group by Region and sum Sales Amount. Check that the summary total matches the cleaned detail before exporting. You can also export the cleaned detail for analysis in your existing reporting workbook.
Save the deliverable with a clear period and purpose, such as sales-september-clean.xlsx. Keep the source exports, combined input, and final output so a reviewer can follow the report back to its records.
Next month: reuse the merge and cleanup settings
When the next exports arrive, load them in EmDesk and reuse the saved merge configuration. Open the resulting file in ExDesk, apply the presaved cleanup filter set, check the reporting dates, and review the output.
This reduces repeated column selection and manual filtering. It also gives colleagues a named process to follow. Spreadsheet analysis remains useful for exploring the results; the saved workflow handles recurring file preparation.
If a source changes its headings, record layout, status values, or sales definition, review the setup before applying it again. A consistent process still needs a check when the inputs change.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine Excel, CSV, and TXT sales exports?
Yes. EmDesk documents mixed-format loading for these inputs. Check that the selected columns represent the same fields and that the text file separates into columns correctly.
Should I stack the files or join them?
Stack files when each contains additional sales rows. Join them when one file adds information to matching records, such as categories for each SKU.
How do I send the merged data to ExDesk?
Save the EmDesk result as XLSX or CSV, then open that file in ExDesk and apply your saved cleanup filter set.
Can I reuse the same filters every month?
Yes, for compatible exports. Reuse stable rules and review any conditions that contain specific dates or other values that change between reporting periods.
Make the next sales report easier to prepare
Start with one month of exports and a written cleanup checklist. Visit the Azio download page to try EmDesk and ExDesk for Windows. Review EmDesk licensing options and ExDesk licensing options, then save a merge configuration and filter set for your recurring report.