Why convert ETL to CSV?
ETL is a binary format built for ETW diagnostic tools, not spreadsheets or scripts. Converting to .csv lets you sort and filter trace events in Excel, Python, or any data tool without needing specialist ETW software.
How to convert ETL to CSV
tracerpt FREE
Open an elevated Command Prompt and run tracerpt yourfile.etl -of CSV; dumpfile.csv appears in the same folder. Add -o events.csv for a custom filename or -lr for lenient parsing on incomplete traces.
Windows Performance Analyzer FREE
Install the free Windows ADK from Microsoft, open the .etl in WPA, right-click any table, and choose Export Table to CSV - exports only the visible subset, useful for specific metrics like CPU or disk I/O.
About these formats
.ETL
Event Trace Log
An ETL file is a Windows Event Trace Log produced by Event Tracing for Windows (ETW) -- a binary record of system events such as performance counters, boot activity, driver traces, and…
Open .ETL details →
.CSV
Comma-Separated Values
A CSV file stores tabular data as plain text - one row per line, values separated by commas (or semicolons in European locales). Any spreadsheet opens it: Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice…
Open .CSV details →Quality & what to watch
- Large traces can produce CSV files with hundreds of thousands of rows; open in Excel with caution or process with Python/pandas.
- Event descriptions rely on provider manifests on the local machine; fields may appear as GUIDs or numeric codes if the trace came from a different PC.
- Windows Performance Analyzer exports only the currently visible table - use
tracerptwhen you need a full event dump.
Frequently asked questions
Does tracerpt need to be downloaded?
Can I open the CSV output in Excel?
dumpfile.csv in Excel like any other CSV; very large files may take time to load.Why do some columns show GUIDs instead of event names?
tracerpt; use the original machine for fully named output.
