Convert ORG to TSV

Why Convert ORG to TSV?

Converting Org-mode documents to TSV format is essential when you need to export table data for use in spreadsheets, databases, or data analysis tools. While Org-mode's tables offer spreadsheet-like functionality within Emacs, TSV provides universal compatibility with virtually any data processing software.

TSV (Tab-Separated Values) is one of the simplest and most reliable formats for tabular data exchange. Unlike CSV, which requires complex quoting rules for fields containing commas, TSV uses tabs as delimiters, which rarely appear in actual data. This makes TSV parsing more straightforward and less error-prone.

The conversion is particularly valuable for researchers and analysts who maintain data tables in Org-mode but need to import that data into Excel, Google Sheets, R, Python pandas, or database systems. Your carefully organized Org tables become immediately usable in any data analysis workflow.

TSV is also the preferred format for many bioinformatics applications, scientific data archives, and legacy systems. Converting your Org-mode data to TSV ensures compatibility with these specialized tools and repositories.

Key Benefits of Converting ORG to TSV:

• Universal Compatibility: Works with Excel, Sheets, databases
• Simple Parsing: Tab delimiters avoid CSV quoting issues
• Database Import: Direct import into SQL databases
• Data Analysis: Ready for pandas, R, Julia
• Scientific Use: Standard in bioinformatics
• Minimal Size: No formatting overhead
• Text-Based: Version control friendly

Practical Examples

Example 1: Sales Data Export

Input ORG file (sales.org):

#+TITLE: Quarterly Sales Report

* Sales by Region

| Region    | Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Total   |
|-----------+---------+---------+---------+---------|
| North     | 125000  | 142000  | 156000  | 423000  |
| South     | 98000   | 112000  | 128000  | 338000  |
| East      | 145000  | 158000  | 172000  | 475000  |
| West      | 112000  | 125000  | 138000  | 375000  |
|-----------+---------+---------+---------+---------|
| Total     | 480000  | 537000  | 594000  | 1611000 |
#+TBLFM: @6$2=vsum(@2..@5)::@6$3=vsum(@2..@5)

Output TSV file (sales.tsv):

Region	Q1 2024	Q2 2024	Q3 2024	Total
North	125000	142000	156000	423000
South	98000	112000	128000	338000
East	145000	158000	172000	475000
West	112000	125000	138000	375000
Total	480000	537000	594000	1611000

Example 2: Contact List Export

Input ORG file (contacts.org):

* Team Contacts

| Name          | Email                 | Department | Phone        |
|---------------+-----------------------+------------+--------------|
| Alice Johnson | [email protected]     | Engineering| 555-0101     |
| Bob Smith     | [email protected]       | Marketing  | 555-0102     |
| Carol White   | [email protected]     | Sales      | 555-0103     |
| David Brown   | [email protected]     | Engineering| 555-0104     |

Output TSV file (contacts.tsv):

Name	Email	Department	Phone
Alice Johnson	[email protected]	Engineering	555-0101
Bob Smith	[email protected]	Marketing	555-0102
Carol White	[email protected]	Sales	555-0103
David Brown	[email protected]	Engineering	555-0104

Example 3: Research Data Export

Input ORG file (experiment.org):

* Experiment Results

| Sample ID | Temperature | Pressure | Reading | Status  |
|-----------+-------------+----------+---------+---------|
| S001      | 25.3        | 101.2    | 0.845   | Valid   |
| S002      | 25.5        | 101.1    | 0.852   | Valid   |
| S003      | 25.4        | 101.3    | 0.848   | Valid   |
| S004      | 26.1        | 101.0    | 0.891   | Outlier |
| S005      | 25.2        | 101.2    | 0.842   | Valid   |

Output TSV file (experiment.tsv):

Sample ID	Temperature	Pressure	Reading	Status
S001	25.3	101.2	0.845	Valid
S002	25.5	101.1	0.852	Valid
S003	25.4	101.3	0.848	Valid
S004	26.1	101.0	0.891	Outlier
S005	25.2	101.2	0.842	Valid

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is TSV format?

A: TSV (Tab-Separated Values) is a simple text format for tabular data where each column is separated by a tab character and each row is on a new line. It's widely used for data exchange because tabs rarely appear in actual data, making parsing simpler than CSV.

Q: What happens to Org-mode table formulas?

A: Org-mode table formulas (#+TBLFM) are evaluated before export, so the TSV file contains the calculated values. However, the formulas themselves are not preserved since TSV is a data-only format. You'll see the computed results as static values.

Q: How are separator lines handled?

A: Org-mode horizontal separator lines (|---+---+---|) are used for visual formatting and are removed during TSV conversion. Only the actual data rows are included in the output file.

Q: Can I open TSV files in Excel?

A: Yes! Excel fully supports TSV files. Simply open the file with Excel, or use File > Import. Excel will automatically recognize tab delimiters and display your data in columns. Google Sheets also imports TSV files directly.

Q: What about non-table content?

A: TSV is designed exclusively for tabular data. Non-table content like headings, paragraphs, and code blocks from your Org file will not be included in the TSV output. Only table data is exported.

Q: How does TSV compare to CSV?

A: TSV uses tabs instead of commas as delimiters. This is advantageous because tabs rarely appear in data fields, eliminating the need for complex quoting rules. CSV requires quotes around fields containing commas, which can cause parsing issues.

Q: Can I import TSV into databases?

A: Yes! Most databases support TSV import. MySQL uses LOAD DATA INFILE, PostgreSQL uses COPY, and SQLite has .import command. TSV is often preferred over CSV for database imports due to simpler parsing.

Q: What if my Org file has multiple tables?

A: If your Org file contains multiple tables, they can be exported as a single TSV with blank lines between tables, or as separate TSV files. The exact behavior depends on the conversion settings.