Excel: Faster Data Import Tools

Key insights

• IMPORTCSV imports a local or web CSV file into Excel with one formula (example: =IMPORTCSV("C:\folder\data.csv")). It uses comma delimiters and UTF-8 by default for quick, simple imports.
  
• IMPORTTEXT reads .txt, .csv, or .tsv files and gives control over parsing. You can set the delimiter, encoding, rows to skip, and row limits for messy or custom-formatted files.
  
• skip_rows / take_rows let you skip headers or limit rows when importing. Use the encoding and locale parameters when files use different character sets or regional formats.
  
• Dynamic arrays spill imported data into adjacent cells and update when you refresh the workbook. Microsoft began rolling these import functions to Windows Insiders in January 2026 and plans wider availability.
  
• VSTACK helps combine multiple CSV imports into one table; pair it with CHOOSECOLS to keep only the columns you need and simplify downstream analysis.
  
• FILTER and TODAY power simple dashboards. For example, use FILTER(IMPORTCSV(...), date_col >= TODAY()-5) to show only transactions from the last five days.
  

In a recent YouTube video, Kenji Farré (Kenji Explains) [MVP] walks viewers through two new Excel functions that change how spreadsheets accept external text data. He focuses on IMPORTCSV and IMPORTTEXT, demonstrating how simple formulas can bring CSV, TXT, and TSV files directly into cells. Accordingly, the video shows practical examples and step-by-step uses that many business users and analysts will find immediately useful.

What Kenji Demonstrated

Kenji begins by showing the straightforward use of IMPORTCSV to pull a CSV file into a sheet by providing a file path. Then he moves to IMPORTTEXT, which offers more control by letting users set delimiters, skip rows, and handle encoding choices. He ties both functions to familiar Excel tools like dynamic arrays, and he emphasizes that these formulas produce spill ranges that update when the source changes.

Next, Kenji shows how to combine basic imports with other functions to build useful workflows. For instance, he stacks multiple CSVs using VSTACK, filters columns with CHOOSECOLS, and extracts recent records using FILTER and TODAY. This narrative helps viewers see the functions in real scenarios rather than as abstract features.

How IMPORTCSV and IMPORTTEXT Work

IMPORTCSV is presented as the quick option: it expects standard CSV formatting and defaults to common settings like comma delimiters and UTF-8 encoding. By contrast, IMPORTTEXT accepts an explicit delimiter argument and other parameters such as row skipping, row limits, encoding, and locale, which give users fine-grained parsing control. Kenji demonstrates typical syntaxes and how to adjust parameters to account for headers, different separators, or partial imports.

The functions return dynamic arrays that spill into adjacent cells and can be refreshed through Excel’s data refresh commands. Kenji points out that this formula approach contrasts with process-based tools, because imports are visible as cell formulas and can live alongside other calculations. Consequently, formulas make auditing and reuse easier for those comfortable working directly in cells.

Real-World Uses and the Mini-Dashboard Example

To illustrate real applications, Kenji builds a small dashboard that shows transactions from the last five days. He first imports raw files using IMPORTCSV, then applies CHOOSECOLS to narrow fields, and finally uses FILTER with TODAY to show only recent activity. This sequence demonstrates how simple formula combinations can replace multi-step query processes for routine reporting needs.

Furthermore, he combines multiple CSV files into one table using VSTACK, which simplifies handling daily exports or batched reports. Kenji also highlights that these imports can work with local files and URLs, which makes them versatile for different environments. As a result, users can create near-live reports without building or maintaining Power Query steps for every small import task.

Tradeoffs: Formulas vs. Power Query and Other Methods

Kenji discusses tradeoffs clearly: formula-based imports excel in quick, repeatable tasks and in spreadsheets where transparency matters, while Power Query still leads when deep transformations or complex cleaning are necessary. Formulas are visible and editable in place, which aids auditability, but they can become hard to manage when many transformations accumulate across many cells. Conversely, Power Query centralizes steps in one place and offers a GUI for complex reshaping.

Performance is another tradeoff to consider. Small to medium files import quickly with formulas, yet very large files or many combined sources may slow worksheet recalculation. Kenji notes that Power Query can handle heavier loads more efficiently and that choosing between approaches depends on the file size, complexity of transformations, and team workflows. Therefore, users should weigh transparency, convenience, and performance when deciding which tool to use.

Challenges and Best Practices

Kenji flags several practical challenges worth noting, including inconsistent delimiters, mixed encodings, and locale-specific date parsing that can break imports if not handled deliberately. He recommends testing with a representative file, using IMPORTTEXT when delimiters vary, and explicitly setting encoding and locale options to avoid misinterpreting characters or dates. These small checks reduce surprises when the import is refreshed or shared with others.

He also advises managing refresh frequency and keeping an eye on file sizes to prevent slowdowns, and he reminds users to consider security when importing from network paths or URLs. Finally, Kenji encourages combining these functions with simple filters and column selectors when possible, keeping heavier transformations in Power Query or dedicated data tools. This balanced approach helps teams move faster while avoiding technical debt in their spreadsheets.

In summary, Kenji Farré’s video provides a practical tour of IMPORTCSV and IMPORTTEXT, showing how they can streamline day-to-day imports and fit into broader reporting workflows. While they do not replace all data preparation tools, they offer a valuable, formula-first option for many common scenarios, and his examples help viewers judge when to use them versus more advanced methods.

Keywords

Excel import data, Excel data import update, Power Query new features, Excel Get & Transform update, import CSV into Excel faster, Excel data connectors improvements, Excel import automation, Excel import JSON support