Convert to File

Convert to File (convertToFile) packages records or text from your automation into a file ({{ N.file }}). Downstream Steps can attach the file to an email, upload it to Google Drive or Slack, or store it in your workspace.

At a glanceVerified in app · Oct 29, 2026

Use it to: Turn a list of records or text into a CSV, Excel (.xlsx), JSON, JSONL, HTML, or text file
Find it: Tools → Data → Convert → Convert to File
Cost: 5 Step credits per started 10 MB
Limits: 100,000 max input rows · 20 MiB max generated file size
Output: {{ N.file }} (with id, name, contentType, and size)
Instead: Respond to Webhook (when returning JSON or text directly to an HTTP caller)

Setting it up

Add Convert to File

Open Tools → Data → Convert in the dock and select Convert to File.

Choose the file type and input

Set File type (operation):

File type	Value	Input field	What it creates
CSV (default)	`"csv"`	Records (`source`)	UTF-8 `.csv` spreadsheet from a list of records (or a plain list of values).
Excel (.xlsx)	`"xlsx"`	Records (`source`)	`.xlsx` workbook with typed numbers, booleans, and text cells.
JSON	`"json"`	Records (`source`)	Pretty-printed `.json` file (`2`-space indentation) from a list or single record.
JSON Lines	`"jsonl"`	Records (`source`)	`.jsonl` file with one JSON record per line.
Text	`"text"`	Text (`text`)	UTF-8 `.txt` file containing the exact text you supply.
HTML	`"html"`	Text (`text`)	UTF-8 `.html` file (`text/html`) containing the HTML markup you supply.

Customize the filename and tabular options (optional)

Under Optional Props:

File name (fileName): Base name such as monthly-report or orders-{{ $today }}.csv (up to 200 characters, defaults to export). Glow appends the matching .csv, .xlsx, .json, .jsonl, .txt, or .html extension when omitted.
Separator (delimiter, CSV only): Comma ("comma", default), Semicolon ("semicolon"), or Tab ("tab").
Start with a row of column names (includeHeader, CSV and Excel): Enabled by default (true). Columns follow the first record’s keys, then any extra keys on later records.
Sheet name (sheetName, Excel only): Worksheet tab name (up to 31 characters, defaults to Sheet1).

Spreadsheet formula-injection protection: In CSV exports, text values starting with =, +, -, or @ (except plain numbers) are prefixed with a single quote ('). Excel exports write text cells as inline strings so formulas never execute automatically.

Do not write credentials into generated files. Workspace secrets and API keys ({{ $secret.* }}, {{ $key.* }}, or sealed variables) are refused with SECRET_IN_UNSAFE_SINK.

What it passes on

If Convert to File is Step 3, downstream Steps map {{ 3.file }} directly into any file attachment or upload field:

Reference	Type	What it holds
`{{ 3.file }}`	File	The complete file reference object to map into a downstream file field.
`{{ 3.file.id }}`	Text	Internal storage identifier for the generated file.
`{{ 3.file.name }}`	Text	Sanitized filename including extension (for example `"export.xlsx"`).
`{{ 3.file.contentType }}`	Text	MIME type (such as `"text/csv; charset=utf-8"` or `"application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"`).
`{{ 3.file.size }}`	Number	Size of the generated file in bytes.

Limits

Resource	Limit
Maximum input rows	100,000 records
Maximum generated file size	20 MiB (`20,971,520` bytes)
Excel sheet name length	`1` to `31` characters

Examples to copy

Export filtered records to Excel

Filter a list of orders, build an .xlsx spreadsheet, and send it in Slack:

Filter the list in Step 2 using Filter.
Add Convert to File at Step 3 with File type: Excel (.xlsx), Records: {{ 2.kept }}, File name: orders-{{ $today }}.xlsx, and Sheet name: Orders.
Pass {{ 3.file }} to your destination app’s file upload field in Step 4.

Verify it works

Run: Select a File type, map your Records or Text input, and click Run step in Test & Debug
You should see: The Step outputs {{ N.file }} with its generated name, contentType, and size in bytes, ready to map into an upload or attachment field.

What’s Next?

Read rows or text back out of an uploaded or downloaded file with Extract from File.
Reshape, rename, or remove columns before exporting with Change Fields.