# CSV

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple, universal file format for storing tabular data. Coupler.io lets you import CSV files from anywhere online—whether hosted on Google Drive, a public server, or an API endpoint—directly into Google Sheets, Excel, BigQuery, Looker Studio, or AI destinations like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini.

## Why connect CSV to Coupler.io?

* **Pull data from any public CSV source** — no matter where it's hosted
* **Automate recurring imports** — refresh your spreadsheet on a schedule without manual downloads
* **Preserve data formatting** — import with control over columns, headers, and row skipping
* **Route to any destination** — send CSV data to Google Sheets, Excel, BigQuery, Looker Studio, or AI platforms

## Prerequisites

* A publicly accessible CSV file (or a shareable link if using Google Drive)
* The direct link to the CSV file
* Depending on your CSV source, you may need HTTP headers or authentication details (e.g., API keys or bearer tokens)

## Quick start

{% hint style="success" %}
The simplest setup: grab a public CSV URL and point Coupler.io to it. No API keys required for basic imports.
{% endhint %}

## How to connect

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Create a new data flow.** Open Coupler.io and start a new data flow. Select CSV as your data source.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Paste your CSV URL.** Enter the direct link to your CSV file (e.g., `https://example.com/data.csv` or a Google Drive shareable link). The URL must point directly to the CSV file, not a webpage.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Choose HTTP method.** Select GET (most common) or POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE if your CSV source requires a specific method. Check your data source's API documentation if unsure.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Add headers or authentication (optional).** If your CSV requires API authentication, add HTTP request headers (e.g., `Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN`) in the HTTP request headers field.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select columns (optional).** By default, Coupler.io imports all columns. To import specific columns only, list them comma-separated (e.g., `id,name,date,amount`).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Skip header rows (optional).** If your CSV has multiple header rows or metadata at the top, specify the number of rows to skip.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Choose your destination.** Select where to send the data: Google Sheets, Excel, BigQuery, Looker Studio, or an AI platform (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Gemini, Perplexity, OpenClaw).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Run the data flow.** Click "Run" to test the import. Wait for it to complete successfully before any further configuration.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Common CSV sources

| Source Type   | Example                                                | Notes                                                   |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Google Drive  | Shareable link to CSV file                             | Must be publicly shared                                 |
| Public URLs   | `https://example.com/data.csv`                         | Direct link to CSV file                                 |
| API endpoints | CSV export endpoints (e.g., Clockify, analytics tools) | May require POST method and authentication headers      |
| FTP servers   | FTP-hosted CSV files                                   | Limited support; include credentials in URL if required |