# Import and review

> Drop an SPSS .sav or CSV file onto Recense to parse it locally — schema, value labels, weights, and groups load directly. Your data never leaves your browser.

*Source:* https://recense.ai/docs/import-and-review

## Supported formats

- SPSS .sav — full support including compressed files, extended encoding, value labels, missing-value definitions, and weight variables. This is the primary workflow.
- CSV — auto-detection of delimiters, multi-header rows, and column types. A review step lets you correct types before committing the import.

## How import works

1. **Drag a file onto the drop zone, or use the file picker.** — Both SPSS .sav and CSV files are accepted.
2. **Recense parses the file in your browser.** — No data is uploaded — everything happens locally.
3. **For SPSS: metadata, variable schema, and all cases load directly.** — The import completes immediately with no review step needed.
4. **For CSV: Recense shows a review screen.** — You can check and override detected column types, delimiters, and header structure before committing.

## What Recense reads from SPSS files

- Variable names, labels, and print/write formats
- Value labels (code-to-label mappings)
- Missing-value definitions (discrete values and ranges)
- Weight variable designation
- Question-group structure (where inferrable from naming patterns)
- File encoding (auto-detected, including legacy encodings)

## Import diagnostics

After import, check for:

- Variables with no value labels where you'd expect them
- Unexpected variable types (e.g. a categorical variable detected as numeric)
- Missing weight variable assignment
- Question groups that need manual adjustment

> **ℹ Fix early**  
> These are best fixed in the Dataset Explorer before building tables.

## Data stays local

Import happens entirely in your browser. Raw survey data is never sent to Recense servers. Your data stays on your machine at all times.

## Next steps

- **[Explore datasets](/docs/explore-datasets)** — Inspect the imported variables, groups, and raw values.
- **[Build tables and analysis](/docs/tables-and-analysis)** — Drag your variables into your first cross-tabulation.
- **[Stack question groups](/docs/stacking)** — Reshape grid questions when you want to analyse the items together.
- **[Security and privacy](/docs/security-and-privacy)** — Confirm where your data lives and what the server can see.