Exporting data from Grafana can be a straightforward process if you know the right tools and methods! If you are asking yourself how to export dashboards in Grafana, you have arrived at the right place. This article delves into the best tools to export data from Grafana, covering both inbuilt and third-party solutions.

Grafana is a very powerful tool for data visualization, catering to time series databases, log and document databases, SQL and the cloud. Its easy-to-use interface allows you to create dashboards and visualizations in a matter of minutes, facilitating data analysis.

However, despite great visualization capabilities, the open source version of Grafana lacks advanced reporting features. To automate data export from Grafana to CSV, Excel, or PDF, additional plugins or external tools are necessary.

In this article, we will explore the two best options for exporting data from Grafana to various formats. Click here if you want to know more about the best Grafana reporting tools in 2024. 

How Do I Export Data from Grafana?

Grafana’s Inbuilt Export

Grafana is a popular open-source platform for monitoring and observability, widely used to visualize and analyze data from various sources. When it comes to exporting data from Grafana, you may not be aware of the inbuilt export option, which eliminates the need for third-party plugins or custom code. In this section, we will guide you through the process of using Grafana’s built-in data export feature and explore its pros and cons.

Exporting data from Grafana is a straightforward process when using the inbuilt export feature. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Open the Grafana Dashboard: Start by opening the Grafana dashboard containing the data you wish to export.
   
2. Select Time Range: Choose your preferred time range for the data you want to export. This option allows you to focus on specific periods of interest.
3. Access Panel Options: Click on the panel’s header where your data is displayed. This will reveal a set of options for that panel.
   
4. Inspect Data: Within the list of options, click on “Inspect” and then select “Data.” This action opens a new tab on the right side of the dashboard.
   
5. Download CSV: In the new tab, you’ll find the “Download CSV” option. Click on it to initiate the download of the data in CSV format, corresponding to the chosen time range.

Pros of Inbuilt Grafana 

• No installation of third-party plugins or tools is required.
• No coding is necessary, making it accessible even for non-technical users.
• The export options are seamlessly integrated into Grafana’s user interface.

Limitations of Inbuilt Grafana 

• You can only export one panel at a time.
• Unfortunately, is not possible to export an entire Grafana dashboard as a whole. Each panel must be exported individually, which can be time-consuming.
• The process is manual, which may not be ideal for frequent or large-scale exports.

Despite these limitations, Grafana’s inbuilt export feature offers a convenient way to export data as CSV, especially for users who prefer to avoid third-party solutions and coding. If you need to export Grafana dashboards with a few panels or require periodic manual exports, this feature can be a valuable asset.

Skedler: An Advanced Solution for Grafana Export

In the previous section, we discussed how to export data as CSV from Grafana using its built-in feature. While Grafana’s native export option proves convenient for certain scenarios, it does come with limitations, especially when it comes to exporting entire dashboards or automating the process. This is where Skedler steps in, offering a robust solution to address these challenges.

What is Skedler?

Skedler is a dedicated software application designed to automate scheduled reports from data sources like Grafana and Kibana. With Skedler, you can seamlessly export data in various formats, including PDF, PNG, HTML, CSV, and Excel, all while supporting efficient distribution. This tool significantly augments Grafana’s built-in export option by providing an effective means to export data from Grafana dashboards. Now, let’s take a closer look at the features and benefits of Skedler Reports:

The Advantages of Skedler Reports for Grafana

• Offers a multitude of export formats including CSV, Excel, PDF, and HTML.
• Automation of the entire reporting workflow, including scheduling.
• Effortlessly distribute reports via email, Slack or AWS S3 Buckets enhancing accessibility.
• Intuitive, user-friendly interface, eliminating the need for coding skills.
• Customizable reports with images, text, and templates.
• Project branding capabilities through the use of templates.
• Compatibility with both older and the latest versions of Grafana.

Skedler Reports is a powerful tool that significantly enhances the data export capabilities of Grafana. By automating the reporting process, offering a wide range of export options, and providing integration with email and Slack, it addresses many of the limitations of Grafana’s inbuilt export feature. Additionally, the ability to customize reports and achieve project branding adds a professional touch to your data presentations.

At this time, Skedler is not available as a plugin inside Grafana. Skedler is deployed as a standalone application that can be used for reporting from one or more Grafana or Elasticsearch-Kibana instances. 

Other Frequently Asked Questions about Grafana

How Do I Export My Whole Grafana Dashboard?

To export your whole Grafana dashboard, the inbuilt option unfortunately does not support this functionality directly. As mentioned earlier, you can only export data from individual panels. For a complete dashboard export, tools like Skedler are required, which can handle the entire dashboard and offer various formats, including PDF. Try it for free now!

What is the Best Data Source for Grafana?

The best data source for Grafana largely depends on your specific use case. Grafana supports a wide range of data sources, including time-series databases like Prometheus and InfluxDB, log databases like Elasticsearch, SQL databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL, and cloud-based data sources such as AWS CloudWatch. The choice of data source should align with the type of data you are analyzing and the queries you need to perform.

How Do I Export a Grafana Dashboard to a PDF?

To export a Grafana dashboard to a PDF, Skedler provides an excellent solution. It allows you to automate the process, customize the report, and include all panels from the dashboard. The inbuilt Grafana export option does not support direct PDF export, making third-party tools like Skedler necessary for this task.

Conclusion

In conclusion, exporting Grafana dashboards and data can be efficiently managed using both the inbuilt options and advanced third-party tools like Skedler. While the inbuilt options are convenient for simple tasks, tools like Skedler provide enhanced functionality for those who require more comprehensive export capabilities. Whether you need to export Grafana dashboards to CSV, Excel, or PDF, the right tool can significantly streamline your workflow and improve your data analysis processes.

If you are looking for the best alternative to Grafana’s limited reporting capabilities, Skedler stands out as the top choice. Designed to automate your Grafana reports in a simple, fast, and error-free manner, Skedler also offers high-level customization of reports. Furthermore, Skedler is a cost-effective solution, making it the preferred tool for teams that work with Grafana or Kibana and need to automate their reporting processes efficiently.

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