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# Supported file formats

> Complete guide to all file formats you can upload to Mammoth, including size limits and format-specific best practices.

Mammoth automatically detects your file type during upload. Each upload must be **50 MB or smaller** in total, so a folder counts as one upload (see [limits and quotas](https://docs.mammoth.io/learn/limits-and-quotas)).

## Format categories

### Spreadsheet formats

| Format | Extension | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CSV | `.csv` | Most reliable for data exchange |
| TSV | `.tsv` | Use when data contains commas |
| PSV | `.psv` | Pipe-delimited, alternative to CSV/TSV |
| Excel | `.xls`, `.xlsx` | Multiple sheets supported |

### Document formats

| Format | Extension | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF | `.pdf` | Text extraction, table detection |
| Plain text | `.txt` | Custom delimiters supported |
| XML | `.xml` | Converted to structured tabular data |

### Compressed archives

| Format | Extension |
| --- | --- |
| ZIP | `.zip` |
| GZIP | `.gz` |
| Bzip2 | `.bz2` |
| Tar | `.tar` |
| 7-Zip | `.7z` |

### Image formats

| Format | Extension |
| --- | --- |
| JPEG | `.jpeg`, `.jpg` |
| PNG | `.png` |
| TIFF | `.tiff`, `.tif` |
| HEIC | `.heic`, `.heif` |
| WebP | `.webp` |

---

## Format-specific notes

### CSV and TSV

- Use **UTF-8 encoding** for international or special characters
- Include **column headers in the first row**
- Use **ISO date format** (YYYY-MM-DD) for reliable date detection
- For banking and financial files: remove comma thousand separators—most banking portals do not accept them
- If your data contains commas within values, use TSV or wrap values in quotes

### Excel

#### What gets imported

- All data values
- Multiple worksheets (you choose which to import)
- Data types per column

#### What does not get imported

- Charts and embedded images
- Macros and VBA code

#### Excel tips

Use the first row for column headers, avoid merged cells in data areas, and ensure consistent data types within each column.

### PDF

- PDF and image files are available when enabled for your workspace, and are processed with AI-assisted extraction
- After upload, choose what to import: **All content**, **Only tables**, or a custom instruction
- Tables must have a **clear, consistent structure** for reliable extraction
- Complex or irregular layouts may require manual review after extraction

### Compressed archives

- Mammoth automatically detects the compression format and extracts all contained files
- Each extracted file is processed according to its own format
- Use compression to upload larger datasets within the 50 MB limit

---

## Choosing the right format

- **CSV**—maximum compatibility, banking integrations, simple data structures
- **TSV**—when your data contains comma values
- **Excel**—multiple related tables, multi-sheet data
- **Compression**—datasets approaching the 50 MB limit, multiple files in one upload
- **PDF**—reports with tabular data, recurring document processing

---

## Format-specific troubleshooting

| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Data appears in a single column | Wrong delimiter detected | Specify delimiter manually in the Data Preview modal |
| Special characters show as symbols | File not UTF-8 encoded | Re-save file with UTF-8 encoding |
| Wrong data imported from Excel | Wrong worksheet selected | Choose the correct worksheet during upload |
| PDF table data incomplete | Complex or irregular layout | Review extracted data manually and clean as needed |
| Dates not recognised | Inconsistent date format | Use ISO format (YYYY-MM-DD) or define date format on upload |

---

## Related guides

- [File Upload](https://docs.mammoth.io/learn/data-sources/file-upload)—step-by-step guide
- [Connectors](https://docs.mammoth.io/learn/connectors/)—for files consistently over 50 MB (see [limits and quotas](https://docs.mammoth.io/learn/limits-and-quotas))
- [PDF extraction](https://docs.mammoth.io/learn/connectors/pdf-extraction)—extract tables from PDFs and images

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Source: https://docs.mammoth.io/learn/data-sources/supported-formats.md · Updated: 2026-10-13