When a Phantom has successfully finished running for the first time, it will generate a CSV file containing information about what it has done or extracted. You can retrieve this file, along with a JSON file, from the Phantom’s console page. (You can access the console page by clicking on the relevant Phantom from your Dashboard).
Overview
- Import the results file dynamically into a Google Sheet
- What to do with these results files
1. Download the CSV to import it manually into Google Sheets or open it with another spreadsheet program
When you should use this manual option?
You should use this manual option when your Phantom has been used for a single launch, such as exporting a search of a hundred profiles or a list of followers.
How to import the results file manually into Google Sheets
1. Download the CSV file by clicking on the download button on the Phantom's console page.
2. On a Google Sheet, go to File > Import > *Select your .csv file* > Replace current sheet > Import data:
2. Import the results file dynamically into a Google Sheet
When you should use this dynamic option?
You should use this dynamic option if your Phantom is set up with repeated launches, as the CSV file will update with each launch. By importing the data dynamically into Google Sheets, it will update with each new launch.
How to import the results file dynamically into Google Sheets
Open a Google Sheet and use the =IMPORTDATA("https://yourcsv.csv") function with the CSV link as your argument. To get this link, just click on the "Copy link" button of your results CSV located under the "Files" section on a Phantom's console page. Here's where you will find the "Copy link" button:
The data will refresh automatically every 2 hours as long as the Phantom launches.
CSV vs. JSON files
Each Phantom produces results in both CSV and JSON results files. The default setting of the Phantoms will cause the data to accumulate in the CSV file with each subsequent launch. The JSON file, however, will only contain the data from the last launch.
Exception: The LinkedIn Profile Scraper is the only Phantom where, by default, will collect all the results in the JSON file. If you don’t want this behavior, you just have to tick the box "Keep only current results in JSON."
To change that default setting of the CSV results file, check out your options here.
What to do with these results files
Usually, the results file of a Search Export Phantom is the first step in an automated workflow. The next step would be to perform actions relating to the profile or post URLs extracted. Remember that we ask for a spreadsheet URL as input, so these dynamic spreadsheets containing URLs will come in handy.
For example: After exporting a LinkedIn profile search, you can auto-connect to the extracted profiles with LinkedIn Auto Connect. The Phantom’s results files will continue updating to monitor which connection requests have been sent.
Alternatively, you can always chain Phantoms together directly without having to use a spreadsheet version of the results file! Just watch this 2-minute tutorial video.
Finally, if at any point you find your file storage getting too full, you can delete your Phantoms or download your results files and then delete them from your Phantom's File browser.
If you think this article does not address your issue, please contact Support directly. We are continuously improving, so your feedback means the world to us!