---
title: Configuring a CSV Collector
slug: how-tos/ioL_-configur
createdAt: 2025-09-23T12:07:50.291Z
---

The **CSV** **collector** in Factry Historian allows you to parse and collect data from CSV files. Once measurements are configured and a valid CSV file is available in the collector’s **incoming path**, the data is automatically processed into data points according to the measurement configuration, making it available for historization, reporting, and analysis in Factry Historian.

## Prerequisites

- Permissions in Factry Historian to *manage* collectors. See [Privileges](docId\:K2NnYEcUxqQsiuCLmpfKH).
- An installed CSV collector. If you have not done so already, first [install the collector](docId\:Iv4_SD56TdxcqKRKCj4kv).
- A configured [time-series database](docId\:F8UdoT0apxmjws-t-GcPV) to write the collected data to.
- Collector access to a shared folder/disk with readable CSV files.

## Configure the collector

After installation, the collector should appear in an <font color="#46abdd">**initial state**</font> and be actively running. This indicates that it has successfully connected to Factry Historian and is ready for configuration.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/SMPo4IS9FkillUAMsur2c/egpjZnejZD-v5-7bCRoVZ-20251023-141214.png)

To configure the collector, select it from the Collectors overview in Factry Historian and click the **Edit** button. Configure the following fields:

### Delimiter

Specifies the delimiter used in the CSV file to separate values.

For example:

:::BlockQuote
,
:::

### CSVHeader

Indicates whether the CSV files contain a header or not. If a header is present, the header record will be skipped when parsing the CSV file.

### TimestampColumn

Indicates the column index of where the timestamp can be found in the CSV file.

:::hint{type="warning"}
Index starts from **0**.
:::

### BasePath

The default directory containing the **incoming**, **processed**, and **error** subdirectories.

- Default subdirectory names:
  - `incoming`
  - `processed`
  - `error`

:::hint{type="info"}
Paths are absolute.
:::

:::hint{type="warning"}
Add a trailing **forward slash (**`/`**)** for linux or a **trailing backslash (**`\`**)** for windows.
:::

For example:

:::BlockQuote
c:\plantdata\\
:::

### FileMask

Defines the file mask pattern used to identify which CSV files should be used.

For example:

:::BlockQuote
\*.csv
:::

### Example

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/SMPo4IS9FkillUAMsur2c/8JXHFA2LJnx3J_9GKnFY3-20251023-141528.jpg)

Then, click **Save**.

### Expected outcome

After you have configured the collector, a green Start button will appear in the top right corner of the collector page.

1. Click **Start** to launch the collector.

If the connection is successful, you should observe the collector status change to <font color="#15803D">**Collecting**</font>.

## Troubleshooting

### Error occured while parsing file

- Make sure you set the correct delimiter in collector settings according to the delimiter used in your CSV file.

## Adding measurements

Follow the guide on [Read data from CSV](docId\:QJcpC1w8J8ZNGtA38mPQu).