---
title: Using imported report data
description: Imported Excel spreadsheets enable you to generate reports based on data maintained outside of your instance and to distribute those reports.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/now-intelligence/reporting/imported-report-data.html
release: australia
product: Reporting
classification: reporting
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Administering reports, Reporting, Reporting, dashboards, and Performance Analytics in the Core UI, Platform Analytics]
---

# Using imported report data

Imported Excel spreadsheets enable you to generate reports based on data maintained outside of your instance and to distribute those reports.

Users with admin, sys\_admin, report\_admin, pa\_admin, and pa\_power\_user roles are able to upload .xlsx files. Uploaded data is temporary and has a specified expiration date, after which reports based on those files are no longer available.

You must have the subscription version of Performance Analytics to create reports with imported data. See [Activate your Performance Analytics subscription](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/now-intelligence/performance-analytics/c_PremiumPerformanceAnalytics.md).

**Note:** Importing report data in this way is useful when you have information that is maintained outside of your instance. To import an external data set into your instance permanently, see Easy import.

**Parent Topic:**[Administering reports](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/now-intelligence/reporting/c_AdminsteringReports.md)