How to create a HERE Places extract in MS Excel format using HERE PEP (HERE Places Extract Portal) Tool
Symptoms
--------
Customers may experience one or more of the following:
The downloaded HERE Places extract is not available directly as an .xlsx file.
The extract is downloaded as a compressed ZIP archive instead of an Excel workbook.
Microsoft Excel cannot open the downloaded file directly.
Places data appears as text and not as structured columns.
Customers need to review, filter, sort, or analyse HERE Places data in Microsoft Excel.
The extracted data must be converted into Excel format for reporting purposes.
Answer
------
To view a HERE Places extract in Microsoft Excel, create the extract in CSV format within the HERE Places Extract Portal (PEP), download the generated archive, extract the contents, and then import the CSV file into Microsoft Excel.
This is expected behaviour. HERE PEP generates Places extracts as downloadable data files, and Excel workbooks are created locally by importing the extracted CSV data into Microsoft Excel.
Product
-------
HERE Places Extract Portal (PEP)
HERE Places Data
Root Cause
----------
The HERE Places Extract Portal exports Places data as machine-readable extract files. Microsoft Excel workbook files (.xlsx) are not generated directly by the portal. Customers must first extract the downloaded archive and then import the CSV content into Excel.
Resolution
----------
### Step 1: Generate the Places Extract
1. Sign in to HERE Places Extract Portal (PEP).
2. Configure the required product and extraction parameters.
3. Under Extract Type, select CSV before submitting the request.
4. Submit the extraction request.
5. Download the completed extract when it becomes available.
### Step 2: Extract the Downloaded Archive
1. Save the downloaded file to a local folder.
2. The downloaded package may contain nested compressed files.
3. Extract or unzip the downloaded file.
4. If another ZIP file exists inside the extracted folder, unzip it as well until the CSV data file becomes available.
### Step 3: Import the CSV into Microsoft Excel
1. Open Microsoft Excel.
2. Select Data → From Text/CSV.
3. Browse to the extracted CSV file and open it.
4. Configure the import settings:
* File Origin / Encoding: UTF-8
* Delimiter: Tab
* Data Type Detection: Adjust if required
5. Select Load to import the data into a worksheet.
After loading, the Places data will be displayed in structured columns that can be filtered, sorted, and saved as a standard Excel workbook (.xlsx).
Expected vs Unexpected Behaviour
--------------------------------
### Expected Behaviour
PEP exports Places data as downloadable extract files.
CSV is selected as the extract type.
The download arrives as a compressed archive.
Customers import the extracted CSV file into Microsoft Excel.
Excel displays the data in tabular format after import.
### Unexpected Behaviour
CSV file is unavailable after extraction.
The archive cannot be extracted.
Excel import fails despite correct encoding and delimiter settings.
* Data columns appear misaligned after import.
If unexpected behaviour occurs, verify that the extract type was set to CSV and that the CSV file was fully extracted before importing into Excel.
Impact
------
Customers can successfully analyse, filter, and share HERE Places data using Microsoft Excel after importing the extracted CSV file. Failure to extract or import the CSV correctly may prevent normal spreadsheet-based analysis.
Keywords / Tags
---------------
HERE PEP, Places Extract Portal, Places Extract, CSV Export, Excel Import, XLSX Conversion, Places Data, UTF-8, Tab Delimiter, Download Places Data, ZIP Extraction, Microsoft Excel, Place Data Export, CSV File, HERE Places
Updated 3 days ago