Add data

Last updated:
March 25, 2024

When you choose a template, you can then choose how to add your data. You can import the data from an Excel file, or add the data manually.

Add data as an Excel file

You can add data from an Excel file directly after choosing your template, or at any other time within the Add data window by clicking the Import Excel file option. If you choose this option, you'll be able to download an Excel template to use to upload your data.

  1. First, download the Excel template and complete this with the data you want to use. For further information about the template, please refer to our Excel article.
  2. Choose how to handle dates for the import.

    Import all available dates from Excel template - Imports all of the information in your template. This option is simplest if you created the Excel file specifically for this import.

    Select a date range to import - You can select which months to import. This option can be useful if you're importing from a large spreadsheet.
  3. To import the template, click Choose file and then select the file you want. Once you're ready, click Import.

Add data from Sumday

If you record your data to Sumday, you can import this into Spotlight Sustain. When you choose this option, you can export a file from Sumday and import it into Spotlight straight away.

  1. In Sumday, open the Home screen and from the left-hand menu, choose Reports.
  2. Select the Carbon Summary by Month report.
  3. Click Export, then when prompted, choose Spotlight Reporting. This downloads a file which is suitable to be imported directly into Spotlight.
  4. Within Spotlight, in the Add data tab, select Sumday.
  5. From step 2, click Select file, then browse to and select the file exported from Sumday.
  6. In step 3, choose how to handle dates for the import:

    Import all available dates - Imports all of the information in your template.

    Select a date range to import - You can select which months to import. This option can be useful if you've previously imported some data.\
  7. To add your data, click Import.

Add data manually

If you choose this option, you will need to enter all data manually into the data grid. To do this, click Add my data now.

All of the default accounts appear in the data grid, and you can enter the required values directly.

Working within the add data tab

Add a new account

To add a new account, open the tab where you want the account, and then click Add new.

A new account appears in the data grid, and you can amend the account name as needed.

Delete an account

To delete an account, select the check box alongside it, then click Delete. When prompted, click Delete now.


View a different financial year

To view the data for a previous financial year, open the Financial year drop-down list and then choose the required year.

Change a report code

Note: The report code for each account determines where the account appears on the report. If you change the report code of a default account, it will no longer appear on the default charts.

  1. Click the Show details link.
  1. Click the existing report code.
  1. Select the new location for the account, then click Save.

Change the Report display name

The Report display name can be used to group accounts together on the report. For example, if you want to show several charts in the same segment of a pie chart, you can give them the same Report display name.

  1. Click the Show details link.

  1. Enter the required display name, then repeat the process for any other accounts you want to change.

Once you've imported or added the data you need, you can then build your report.

Spotlight Sustain