Are you experiencing large CSV files and looking for reliable solution to reduce CSV size? Then you’ve come to right blog. This article will guide you on how to reduce CSV file size without opening it. We will also cover all possible causes for what makes CSV file oversized.
CSV files are very popularly used for saving and sharing structured data. If you are businessman, an IT admin, or an expert analyst, they usually work with CSV files due to their compatibility with every database platform and lightweight nature.
However, it can quickly become large when they are used for storing giant datasets or unwanted information. As a result, it becomes unable to open large CSV files due to their size limit.
All these reasons make users reduce CSV file size. To simplify this task, here is how to reduce the size of a CSV file without data loss. Let’s discuss various methods for lessening CSV size.
Why Should Users Reduce CSV Size?
Before anyone dives into solution, it becomes necessary to understand what makes your CSV files large in size. We will also cover why there is need to reduce CSV file size. Let’s look at reasons listed below:
- Excessive (Rows & Columns): These CSV files usually contain unwanted or outdated data that should be cleaned.
- Duplicate Records: Some unnecessary or already existing data leads to taking up extra space, which further results in inaccurate analysis output.
- Empty Data: If any blank rows or unused columns are present, then they are consuming your CSV file by giving nothing to it.
- Same Entries: If your CSV file has repeated values across several columns, then it also results in exceeding size limit of your CSV dataset.
- Unwanted Columns: Multiple times you have transferred CSV files that contain these unnecessary columns that are no longer needed. This leads to an increase in size of your CSVs.
Now, check answer mentioned below on why you should compress CSV files.
- This helps users to easily open, share, or edit their CSV data file in spreadsheet program.
- Enhances compatibility with applications that have file size restrictions.
- This enables users to upload large datasets quickly into various databases.
- Reduce CSV size allows users to consume less storage space.
- In some cases, it even becomes easier to share through email or cloud storage.
How to Reduce CSV File Size – 8 Best Ways
In this section, we have explained several techniques to reduce the size of a CSV. Users can choose between them depending on cause. Here are some of them listed below:
- Remove Unwanted Columns
- Keep Only Necessary Records
- Delete Blank Rows
- Compress CSVs into ZIP format
- Clear Duplicate Entries
- Using MS Excel
- Eliminate Extra Spaces
- Choose Professional Method to Reduce CSV Size
Let’s walk through an explanation of these solutions.
Method 1: Remove Unwanted Columns
User should check their large CSV dataset and delete unnecessary columns if they are not required. This helps users to instantly reduce CSV file size. You might need to keep mostly listed items below:
- Name
- Email Address
- Phone Number
Along with them, they are more data that users should keep depending on type of business, and delete rest of columns.
Method 2: Keep Only Necessary Records
One can store information which are actually in need instead of saving complete CSV dataset. If you are businessman or an IT professional, then it might include some filters for keeping in their CSV such as:
- Name of Employees
- Transaction Records
- Product Inventory
- Contact List
To compress CSV file size, removing outdated data is another effective way.
Method 3: Delete Blank Rows
If there are any spaces in your rows, then it is only consuming storage without adding any data. So, you must remove them to recover more space from it. To do so, you can follow steps mentioned below in MS Excel:
Steps:
- Open your large CSV file.
- Choose some part of your dataset.
- Search for blank spaces, and if any are found, delete them.
- At last, save your file again.
Now, you will notice that your CSV data file size has slightly reduced without losing its data integrity.
Method 4: Compress CSVs into ZIP format
If you need to share or export large CSV dataset, then you can also compress it by converting file format to ZIP.
This will help you to maintain original file structure throughout exporting process.
Note: However, it does not change actual file size, but slightly reduces transfer size.
Method 5: Clear Duplicate Entries
Steps:
- Choose your large CSV Datasets.
- Open Data Tab and hit on remove duplicates button.
- Select similar or same columns.
- Lastly, confirm your elimination process.
Note: If you want more accurate results, then we recommend using SysTools CSV Duplicates Remover Tool, which allows users to get rid of duplicate entries effectively.
Method 6: Reduce CSV File Size Using MS Excel
Users can also choose built in MS Excel feature to reduce CSV file size by following steps mentioned below:
- Open your CSV file in Excel.
- Remove unwanted rows & columns.
- Delete Empty records
- Use advanced filter to sort and remove unnecessary entries.
- Finally, save your data file with .csv extension.
One could also read: How to Reduce Excel File Size
Method 7: Eliminate Extra Spaces
Sometimes, even your uploaded data file includes some unwanted or blank spaces, which should be removed. As cleaning of these unnecessary spaces helps users to reduce the size of a CSV little bit while they are managing structured data effectively.
Method 8: Try Professional Method to Reduce CSV Size
If users are looking for an advanced tool so that they can avoid challenges faced by manual solutions, they can choose SysTools’ Software. This dedicated software allows users to compact their oversized CSV data file without opening it. One can choose premium filter to split by size, rows, or columns, keeping header intact, etc.
Additionally, it is most chosen software by IT experts and professionals for its security and accuracy. This offline desktop based utility allows reducing CSV file size on both Windows and Mac operating systems. Additionally, it is two in one solution that can break and merge CSV files without any file size restrictions.
One can download its trial version to understand and explore its working.
How to Reduce CSV File Size Using Professional Software?
- Download aforementioned software and choose Split CSV button.
- Add Files and Folder option to upload large sized CSV data file.
- After adding, one can preview uploaded CSV files and tap Next button.
- You can apply advanced filters to reduce CSV size, records, and headers.
- Browse your destination path to store resultant CSV file.
- Finally, press Split button to break down CSV into smaller files.
Conclusion
In this guide, we have explained how to reduce CSV size by removing unwanted columns and rows, using MS Excel, compressing it into ZIP format, keeping only important records, and using professional software developed by SysTools. If you are dealing with bulk CSV files, then you should opt for aforementioned tool.
For further queries, one can contact our support team via 24/7 live chat.
