docs.openc3.com/docs/tools/data-extractor.md
---
title: Data Extractor
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## Introduction
Data Extractor extracts command and telemetry items into comma or tab separated files. Individual items or entire packets can be processed over any time period. Data Extractor also has a number of options to control the output for post processing in Excel or Matlab, for example.
## Data Extractor Menus
### File Menu Items
<!-- Image sized to match up with bullets -->
<img src={require('@site/static/img/data_extractor/file_menu.png').default}
alt="File Menu"
style={{"float": 'left', "margin-right": 50 + 'px', "height": 150 + 'px'}} />
- Opens a saved configuration
- Save the current configuration (item list)
- Reset the configuration (default settings)
- Delimit output with commas
- Delimit output with tabs
#### Open Configuration
The Open Configuration dialog displays a list of all saved configurations. You select a configuration and then click Ok to load it. You can delete existing configurations by clicking the Trash icon next to a configuration name.
#### Save Configuration
The Save Configuration dialog also displays a list of all saved configurations. You click the Configuration Name text field, enter the name of your new configuration, and click Ok to save. You can delete existing configurations by clicking the Trash icon next to a configuration name.
### Mode Menu Items
<!-- Image sized to match up with bullets -->
<img src={require('@site/static/img/data_extractor/mode_menu.png').default}
alt="Mode Menu"
style={{"float": 'left', "margin-right": 50 + 'px', "height": 150 + 'px'}} />
- Fill empty cells with the previous value
- Add a Matlab comment ('%') to the header
- Only output changed values
- Only list item name as column header
- List full Target Packet Item as header
## Selecting Items for Output
### Start/End Date/Time
Data Extractor provides text fields where you specify the time range to extract items. Clicking the Start Date and End Date text fields opens a Date Chooser dialog. Note you can also manually type in the date. Clicking the Start Time and End Time icon opens up a Time Chooser dialog. Note you can also manually type in the time.
### Adding Target(s) Packet(s) Item(s)
Data Extractor provides Target, Packet, Item drop downs to select the items you want to export. When you select a Target the Packet drop down defaults to \[All\] which sets the button to "Add Target". This would add EVERY item defined in EVERY packet in the target. Note: This can be a LOT of telemetry points but any added point can be removed.
When you select a Packet the Item drop down defaults to \[All\] which sets the button to "Add Packet". This would add EVERY item defined in the specified packet. Note: This can be a LOT of telemetry points but any added point can be removed.
When you select an individual Item the button changes to "Add Item" and the Description field updates with the item's description.
### Removing Items
Once you've added items the Items table will have a list of items. Items can be removed by clicking the Trash icon next to the item. ALL items can be removed by clicking the Trash icon in the header.
### Editing Items
Items can be edited by clicking the Pencil icon next to the item. ALL items can be edited by clicking the pencil icon in the header.
Clicking the Edit All brings up the Edit All Items dialog.
This allows you to change the data type of all items in the list. Clicking the pencil next to an individual item brings up a similar dialog to edit the individual item.
## Processing Items
Clicking the Process button starts the processing of the items list. A progress wheel is shown on the left side of the table and the Process button changes to Cancel to allow canceling the process.
When the processing is complete, the browser shows a file download link. Note this varies by browser. This example is from Chrome.
