VisiData CLI
VisiData opens multiple table formats in a terminal and helps explore, arrange and compare data through keyboard controls.
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- GPL-3.0
Extended access
Why this level
- The tool reads local tables and can save processed data to files.
Install
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add cli/visidataDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The tool reads local tables and can save processed data to files.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Open an export to see its rows and columns. VisiData reads CSV, TSV, JSON, SQLite and other sources; keyboard commands explore and arrange tables. A frequency view shows how often each value occurs in a column. Input can also come from another command’s stdout. Select rows, sort them and build pivot tables in the terminal. The quick reference opens inside the session, so you can look up commands without closing the data. Saving the processed table is a separate action.
Who it is for. Tabular-data analysts inspecting exports in a terminal without a separate spreadsheet application.
Good fit when
- Inspect a CSV export before database import.
- Pipe command output into VisiData to read it as a table.
- Find rare values and frequencies in a column.
- Explore different export formats with one keyboard interface.
Not a fit when
- An Excel workbook depends on complex formulas and exact formatting.
- Users need to edit a shared table through a browser.
- The input export is unavailable to the process.
Example request
Prepare a manual VisiData CSV review covering column types, missing values and frequencies without overwriting the source.Limitations
Use Python 3.8 or later and a supported OS; Windows runs VisiData through WSL. Some formats require extra Python packages in vd’s environment. After a pip3 install, add them with that same pip3; after a pipx install, use pipx inject. Before replacing an input file, save a separate result and compare column types and missing values. For complex Excel workbooks, assess formula and formatting preservation separately.
How to disable. Press `Ctrl+Q` to close the interface. Exiting VisiData and saving a processed table are separate actions.
FAQ
What opens a file?
Run `vd` with its path; the same tool accepts piped input.
How is XLSX read?
XLSX needs openpyxl in VisiData’s environment. For an existing pipx installation, `pipx inject visidata openpyxl lxml` adds loader dependencies to vd.
Why is a format unavailable after installing a module?
`which vd` shows the active executable. For a pipx installation, add the module with pipx inject; for pip3, use the pip3 that installed that copy of VisiData.
How do I open the reference?
Press `Ctrl+H` inside `vd` for the command list.
How do I leave?
`Ctrl+Q` closes the interface. Saving results is a separate action.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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README in short
VisiData records commands in a log and replays them with --play. The --batch option runs without an interface, so an established export workflow can be repeated on another file.