Where does SCADA Desktop store historian data before export?

In a local SQLite database file on the same Windows machine running SCADA Desktop. Nothing is sent to the cloud — the CSV export reads directly from that local database.

Can I export multiple tags into one CSV file?

Yes. Select multiple tags in the Trend Viewer before exporting and SCADA Desktop writes them as separate columns in the same CSV, aligned by timestamp.

Is there a limit on how much historian data I can export?

The practical limit is your disk space and Excel's row limit (about 1,048,576 rows), not SCADA Desktop itself. For very long time ranges at fast logging intervals, export in smaller date-range batches to keep files manageable.

What columns are in the exported CSV?

Each row has a timestamp column and one value column per selected tag. Column headers use the tag names you configured, so the file is ready to use without renaming columns.

How to Export SCADA Desktop Historian Data to CSV

July 12, 2026 · 7 min read

SCADA Desktop's historian logs every configured tag to a local SQLite database automatically — but a database file isn't useful for a maintenance report or a compliance audit. This guide walks through exporting that logged data to a clean CSV file in under two minutes.

Before you start: Make sure the tags you want to export already have historian logging enabled (Devices → your device → Enable Historian Logging) and have been running long enough to accumulate the time range you need.

Step 1 — Open the Trend Viewer

Historian → Trend Viewer

From the main SCADA Desktop window, go to Historian → Trend Viewer. This screen lists every tag that has logged data, along with a live trend chart.

Step 2 — Select the Tags to Export

Check one or more tags

Check the box next to each tag you want in the export. You can export a single tag (e.g. "Tank Level") or combine several related tags (e.g. "Tank Level", "Inlet Flow", "Outlet Flow") into one file.

Tip: Group tags that share the same logging interval into one export. Mixing a tag logged every second with one logged every minute still works, but the CSV will have more rows for the faster tag between each slower reading.

Step 3 — Set the Time Range

Pick a preset or custom range

Use a preset — Last 24 Hours, Last 7 Days, Last 30 Days — or set a custom start and end date/time for a specific shift, incident window, or reporting period.

Step 4 — Export to CSV

Click Export CSV

Click the Export CSV button. SCADA Desktop queries the local SQLite database for the selected tags and time range, and writes a CSV file with a timestamp column and one value column per tag.

Large exports: If you're exporting weeks of data at a 1-second logging interval, the resulting file can be very large. Export in smaller date-range batches (e.g. week by week) to keep files manageable and within Excel's row limit.

Step 5 — Open the CSV

The exported file opens directly in Excel, Google Sheets, or any CSV-compatible tool. Column headers use your configured tag names, so there's no renaming needed before you build a report or chart.

Common Use Cases for Historian Export

Maintenance reports — export a week of vibration or temperature readings to show a trend to a maintenance manager.
Compliance records — export a specific shift or batch window to prove a process stayed within limits.
Incident investigation — export the hours before and after an alarm to reconstruct what happened.
Offline analysis — export raw data into Excel, Python, or a BI tool for deeper analysis than the built-in trend viewer supports.

Troubleshooting

Export button is greyed out

Confirm at least one tag is checked in the Trend Viewer before exporting.
Confirm the selected time range actually contains logged data — an empty range disables export.

CSV file is empty or missing rows

Check that historian logging was enabled for that tag during the selected time range — logging must be turned on per-tag, and data isn't backfilled for periods before it was enabled.
Verify the local SQLite database file hasn't been moved or deleted from its default data folder.

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