Check a CSV export against the workbook before handing it off

A report looks right in Excel, but the receiving system shows different numbers. Before changing the import settings, check the exported file against the sheet it came from.

I make Diff Anything. This is a practical way to use its CSV-to-workbook comparison:

1. Save the workbook, then export the sheet you intend to send. Keep those two files together so you are checking the same version.

2. Open the CSV or TSV on one side of Diff Anything and the workbook on the other. Under Compare with sheet, select the sheet you exported; the comparison starts with the workbook’s first sheet.

3. Review the changed cell addresses. Check the header row first, then a few records whose values you already know. A different sheet or shifted column can explain many apparent changes at once.

4. Look at the exact values the receiving system will get. For example, 20 and 20.0 are different text, even if they represent the same number. Whether that matters depends on the import’s requirements.

5. If you change the workbook or export settings, save a new export and compare again before sending it.

The comparison uses stored cell values. It is a useful check at the handoff, alongside the receiving system’s own validation.

Diff Anything runs locally on macOS and Windows, with no AI involved. Free desktop use lets you try the comparison engines within its usage limits.

Workflow and release details: https://martingruner.com/blog/diff-anything-1-6

Windows download: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9P4S100Z4H84?cid=community-week1-workbook-review-2026-1009

What causes more trouble in your exports: the wrong sheet, changed columns, or values formatted differently?