Exporting Reports to PDF or Excel
When to choose PDF versus Excel, and what stays the same between the two.
Choosing a format
PDF is best for something you'll print or share as-is, formatted with your church's branding. Excel is best if you or someone else needs to filter, sort, or further analyze the data after export.
What's different between the two
Both formats include the same underlying data and columns you selected in the wizard, PDF adds visual formatting (headers, church branding) that Excel doesn't need since it's meant for further manipulation, not presentation.
Excel exports use real spreadsheet formatting (proper column types, not just text), so a Date or Number column behaves correctly if you build formulas on top of it afterward.
Large exports
Very large member lists may take a few extra seconds to generate, particularly for PDF given its additional formatting step, this is expected and not a sign of an error.
Related Articles
Generating a Members Report
Step through the wizard to produce a PDF or Excel report of your membership.
Understanding Report Jobs and Status
Why every report is tracked as a job, and what to check if a job shows failed.
Best Practices for Filtering Before You Generate a Report
Get your filters right the first time, since a synchronous report waits for the full generation to complete.
Common Mistakes When Building a Members Report
A short list of avoidable errors that lead to a report you'll need to regenerate.