To import a spreadsheet into Baserow as an online database for collaboration, upload your CSV or Excel file and let the team work in shared views. Adobe Acrobat’s Excel to PDF is a lighter option: it converts XLS and XLSX files, deletes them from its servers unless you sign in to save, and lets you share a PDF for comments.

A spreadsheet is easy to start, but it gets hard to review and edit once several people need different views of the same rows. A database keeps one copy of the records and shows them in different ways. This article covers what Baserow says happens when you import a spreadsheet, how Glide handles an imported file, and what the choices mean for editing, views, and sharing. Details come from each platform’s own documentation, and plans and features change, so confirm them on each page. Test with a copy of your file before you move the original.

Baserow’s documentation says you can create a table by importing CSV, Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .ods), JSON, or XML files, or by pasting table data, and that it creates fields automatically. Each import creates a separate table. A table can then be shown as a Grid, Gallery, Form, Kanban, Calendar, or Timeline view without changing the underlying records. Its docs describe collaborative views, shared with everyone who has access to the table, and personal views that only their creator sees. Tables also support row comments and @mentions, so reviewers can leave notes next to the record.

Platform	What the import creates	What the pages say about editing and sharing
Baserow	A table from CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML	Grid, Gallery, Form, Kanban, and Calendar views; collaborative and personal views
Glide	A Glide Table and app screens from .xlsx, .csv, or .ods	A spreadsheet style Data Editor; changes sync back to a connected source
Online spreadsheet	A shared workbook	Excel for the web and Google Sheets import workbooks for shared editing
Adobe Acrobat Excel to PDF	A PDF copy	Deleted from servers unless you sign in; share for review comments

Glide Spreadsheet App: Can You Edit Data Online After You Import It?

Yes. Glide’s documentation says you can import .xlsx, .csv, or .ods files, and that Glide converts the file into a Glide Table, which it describes as a spreadsheet that lives in Glide. Its data sources page says the Data Editor uses a spreadsheet style interface for editing, and that changes in Glide sync back to the connected data source. Sheets in an Excel workbook become screens and tables in the app. Syncing with Excel from OneDrive or SharePoint needs a Business or Enterprise plan, while importing works on any plan. What app users can edit depends on how you configure the app, so check Glide’s docs.

Import Excel and CSV Files: How Do You Edit Records and Share Views?

In Baserow, edit records in Grid view, which its docs describe as spreadsheet style with inline editing, and a change appears in every other view of the table. Form view collects new rows from people who do not need database access, and an edit row link gives each row its own URL with a pre-filled form that updates the row on submit. Sharing a view publicly generates a link or embed code, and the docs say you can control whether viewers can edit, comment, or only view. Only Admins and Builders can generate public share links. Use personal views for your own filters, and keep shared views simple.

Import Excel and CSV Into an Online Database: Which Formats Work?

Baserow lists CSV, Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .ods), JSON, and XML, and Glide lists .xlsx, .csv, and .ods. Both can also add data later: Glide’s docs describe importing into an existing Glide Table, and Baserow’s view menus include an import file option for CSV, JSON, or XML. A CSV holds plain values, so formulas and formatting do not travel, which suits raw data. After any import, check that numbers, dates, and text landed in the right field types, compare row counts with the original, and keep your source file. Test the import with a small copy first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add more data to a table after the first import?

Often, yes. Glide’s documentation describes importing a file into an existing Glide Table, and Baserow’s view management menus list an import file option for CSV, JSON, or XML files. Check that the columns in the new file match the existing fields, and test with a few rows first so you do not create duplicates or misplaced values.

Who can see a view I share publicly?

Anyone who has the link or embed code can see what the view shows, so treat it as public. Baserow’s docs say you can control whether viewers can edit, comment, or only view, and that a calendar subscription URL shows events to anyone who has it. Share a filtered view, review it before you send it, and stop sharing when the review ends.

Is a database better than a spreadsheet for review?

It depends on the job. A database helps when many people need different views, forms, or roles on the same records, and a shared spreadsheet is simpler for small teams. For a read only copy that people comment on, Adobe’s Excel to PDF page says you can share a PDF for review, while your workbook stays the master.