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Exporting Processed Data to CSV

CSV export can support download and reuse of a filtered or processed result. It is optional when import already satisfies the data-transfer requirement, but can be valuable for a justified user need.

Send download headers

header("Content-Type: text/csv; charset=UTF-8");
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="team-summary.csv"');

$output = fopen("php://output", "w");
fputcsv($output, ["Team", "Wins", "Losses", "Points"]);

foreach ($rows as $row) {
    fputcsv($output, [
        $row["team_name"],
        $row["wins"],
        $row["losses"],
        $row["points"]
    ]);
}
fclose($output);
exit;

Run authentication and authorisation before output headers. Build $rows with the same validated filters used by the visible report.

Test

Open the download in a text editor and spreadsheet. Check headings, quoted commas, character encoding, row count and filtered scope.

Check

  • Export serves a real user need.
  • Access rules match the data.
  • fputcsv() handles escaping.
  • Output contains no unintended personal or sensitive data.
  • Download matches the on-screen processed result.
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