Saved Setups (Reusing a File's Column Setup)¶

Customized a file once — column types, widths, number formatting, row height, header row — and now you're opening another file with the same columns? Smart CSV Editor remembers the setups of files you've customized and offers to reuse them, so you never redo the same styling twice.

A typical case: you style expenses-june.csv, and next month you receive expenses-july.csv with the same header. Open it, tap Apply, done.

How it works¶

Capturing is automatic. Whenever you save a file that carries custom settings (anything that would write #csv: lines), its setup is remembered on your device. There's nothing to enable.
Matching is exact. A saved setup is offered for a file whose first row and column count match the file it came from. Values are compared ignoring case and surrounding spaces, so Date still matches date — but a renamed, added, or reordered column means no match (and no wrong suggestions).
Formula columns don't break the match. If the source file gained formula columns (say you added a Total column to expenses-june.csv), a new file that has only the original columns still matches — the setup is offered as one that would add those formula columns, and you're asked whether to include them (see below).
The app keeps your 20 most recent setups; when several match a file, the 5 newest are offered.

The offer when you open a file¶

When you open a file that has no saved settings of its own and at least one remembered setup matches it, a notice appears at the top:

Similar file recognized — Set up columns like "expenses-june"?

One match → tap Apply and the setup is applied immediately.
Several matches → tap Choose to pick from a list. Each entry shows the source file's name, when it was saved, and a preview of its columns with their type icons.
Tap ✕ (or just wait — the notice hides itself after a few seconds) to keep the file as it is.

Files that already have settings are left alone

The notice only appears for files without their own #csv: settings. A file you've already customized never gets prompted — its own setup always wins.

Applying a setup manually¶

Missed the notice, or want to switch a file to a different setup later?

Tap More (•••) → Apply Saved Setup… — the item appears whenever at least one saved setup matches the open file, including files that already have their own settings.

What applying does (and doesn't do)¶

Applying a setup copies the source file's:

Column types (Text, Number, Currency, Checkbox, …) and their formatting (decimals, thousands separator, currency, rating scale)
Column widths
Row height
The First Row Is Header flag

Your data is never changed — only how it's displayed and edited. The change is one step, so a single Undo restores the file exactly as it was.

Setups with formula columns¶

If the source file has formula columns that the new file doesn't, applying its setup first asks:

Include Formula Columns? — "expenses-june.csv" also includes formula columns: "Total". Add them to this file too?

Include Formula Columns — the formula columns are created at the same positions as in the source file, and their values are computed from this file's data. Creating formula columns is a Pro feature.
Columns Only — only the plain columns' types, widths, and formatting are applied; no columns are added. Available to everyone.
Either way it stays one undo step — a single Undo removes added columns and reverts the styling together.

In the setup chooser, such entries carry an "Also adds: …" note naming the formula columns they would create.

Reuse just the formula

Don't want the whole setup? The formula editor itself suggests formulas you saved in files with the same columns — open it and tap a suggestion under From Similar Files.

It's a copy, not a link

Applying a setup copies it into the file once. If you later restyle the original file, files that borrowed its setup keep theirs — nothing propagates between files. After applying, the setup is saved into the file itself as normal #csv: lines.

Privacy¶

Saved setups live only on your device (in the app's local storage). They contain the source file's name, its header labels, and the display settings — never your data rows — and nothing is uploaded anywhere.

Troubleshooting¶

The notice didn't appear for my similar file.

The headers must match exactly (aside from case and spacing) and have the same number of columns. Check for an extra column, a renamed label, or a different column order.
The source file must have been saved with customizations first — close it once after styling it.
The new file may already contain its own #csv: settings; use More (•••) → Apply Saved Setup… instead.
Files that parse into a single column (wrong delimiter) or with an over-long first row are ignored on purpose — fix the parsing first via Re-open With Settings.

I applied the wrong setup. Tap Undo, or apply a different one from More (•••) → Apply Saved Setup….