Data Import & Export

Fix SharePoint Number Column Missing When Exporting to Excel

Elise Williams Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover a missing number column that fails to appear when exporting a data list from SharePoint to Microsoft Excel.

How to Fix SharePoint Number Column Missing When Exporting to Excel

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Exporting a SharePoint list to an Excel spreadsheet for local data analysis or reporting.
Observed behavior: An insufficient-memory error pops up before opening the file, and once opened, the specific number column is entirely missing while other columns load normally.

Before you start

Verify that your list view in SharePoint actively displays the number column you wish to export and ensure your browser allows file downloads from the SharePoint site.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Export to CSV Feature as a Workaround

Exporting your list to a CSV file avoids the dynamic IQY connection process used by Excel, successfully downloading all raw text and number fields without triggering memory errors.

When exporting a list from SharePoint to Excel, the system creates an IQY (Web Query) connection file. This dynamic web connection can sometimes struggle to parse certain column types or timeout, resulting in insufficient-memory errors and dropped data.

By choosing to export to CSV instead, you create a static file containing plain text and numbers. This bypasses the problematic IQY protocol and guarantees that your number column is downloaded intact.

Navigate to your SharePoint list

Open your web browser and go to the specific SharePoint list that contains the number column you want to extract.

Click on the Export menu

Locate the command bar at the top of the SharePoint list view and click on the 'Export' dropdown button.

Select Export to CSV

From the dropdown menu, click on 'Export to CSV' rather than the standard 'Export to Excel' option.

Open and verify the data

Once the CSV file finishes downloading, open it in your preferred spreadsheet application to verify that the missing number column is now present and the memory error is resolved.

Use the Export to CSV Feature as a Workaround

Data Integrity Checked: While CSV format strips away rich cell formatting (like colors and bold text), it provides a 100% reliable way to preserve your actual list data and raw values.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Spreadsheet for Reliable Data Management

If Microsoft Excel struggles with memory allocation errors when handling SharePoint web queries, consider using WPS Spreadsheet. It is a highly compatible, lightweight alternative that effortlessly opens large CSV exports without bogging down your computer's memory.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free office suite on your computer.
2. Launch WPS Spreadsheet: Open the application and select 'Spreadsheet' from the main workspace dashboard.
3. Open your SharePoint CSV: Click 'Menu' > 'Open' to browse your local downloads folder and seamlessly load the CSV file exported from SharePoint.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel file formats (.xlsx, .csv, .xls)Lightweight architecture prevents insufficient memory errors during large data importsCompletely free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate user interfaceSeamlessly handles offline CSV data exports from SharePoint and other web platforms

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does an insufficient memory error occur when opening a SharePoint export?

SharePoint exports to Excel using an IQY file, which tries to establish a live data connection. If the dataset is large or the network connection lags, Excel can consume excessive resources attempting to allocate memory for the dynamic data transfer, triggering the error.

What is an IQY connection file?

An IQY (Internet Query) file is a plain text file utilized by Microsoft Excel to pull data directly from an intranet or internet source. It acts as a live link rather than a static spreadsheet, meaning it refreshes data directly from SharePoint whenever opened.

Can I automatically sync the downloaded CSV back to SharePoint?

No. Unlike an IQY file, a CSV is a static offline snapshot of your data. If you make edits to the CSV locally, those changes will not sync back. You would need to use tools like Power Automate or manually update the SharePoint list.

How do I fix the number format if it displays correctly in the CSV but looks like scientific notation?

If large numbers appear in scientific notation (e.g., 1.23E+10), select the affected column, right-click, choose 'Format Cells', and change the category to 'Number' with zero decimal places to display the full integer.

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