> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stagemic.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Export CSV Files

The Character and Actor plots can be exported as CSV files.

CSV is useful for opening the allocation table in a spreadsheet or adapting it for other paperwork.

## Exporting

1. Open **Character plot** or **Actor plot**.
2. Select **Export CSV**.
3. Choose a filename and location.
4. Save the file.

The export uses the current show data, including changes that have been autosaved since your last separate `.mic` save.

## Opening a CSV

Open the file in a spreadsheet application such as Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.

If the application asks how to import it, choose:

* **UTF-8** text encoding.
* **Comma** as the separator.
* Double quotes as the text qualifier, where requested.

Cells containing line breaks or punctuation may be quoted in the file. A CSV-aware application interprets those quotes as part of the file structure.

## Formatting

CSV contains text and table structure. It does not preserve the app’s colours, fonts, sticky headings or cell styling.

You can format the table after opening it in a spreadsheet.

Completion ticks and live completion highlighting are not included.

## CSV and show files

CSV is an export format, not a StageMic show backup.

Editing a CSV does not update the show in StageMic, and CSV files cannot be loaded as `.mic` shows.

Use **Save** to preserve the editable StageMic show.

## Copying a table into an email

If you want to paste the plot directly into an email or document, use **Copy table** instead:

1. Open Character plot or Actor plot.
2. Select **Copy table**.
3. Paste into the destination application.

The copied table uses a simplified layout:

* Unassigned allocations are blank.
* Handover text uses “to” or “from”.
* Mic numbers are shown without a “Mic” prefix.
* Actor allocations place the character name on a separate line.

This changes the copied output only. The tables inside StageMic retain their normal appearance.

How much formatting survives depends on the application receiving the paste. You may need to adjust colours, column widths or line breaks there.


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