Excel export for Researchers

By the Mail → Excel team · Updated 2026-10-20

Consent and correspondence are part of the research record. An index protects both the study and the participants. This page lists the exact columns, an example row and the command that produces it.

Columns to keep

Column	Why it matters
`participant`	Pseudonymised participant id, never the real name.
`topic`	The subject of the commitment or conversation.
`consent`	Consent status (yes / no / withdrawn) — never inferred.
`date`	Message date in ISO 8601; sortable and unambiguous across time zones.
`source`	Where the application came from (job board, referral, inbound).

Example row

One real-shaped row from this role’s export:

participant	topic	consent	date	source
P-014	onboarding	signed	2026-10-11	interview

Export it in one command

python mail_to_excel.py \
  --host imap.example.com --user you@example.com \
  --days 31 --fields participant,topic,consent,date,source \
  --out researcher.xlsx

The --fields option is what turns a raw dump into a report your role can use.

Provider notes

University Exchange often blocks app passwords; use the institution’s approved export path.

Two pitfalls that ruin the file

Participant identities leak into the dataset — Store pseudonyms in the export and keep the mapping in a separate, access-controlled file.
Consent status is unclear — Add a consent column with yes/no/withdrawn and never infer it.

Next step

Step-by-step: export researcher email to Excel · all roles · ready script ($3)

FAQ

Does this comply with GDPR?

Only if you minimise data and document purpose. The export itself is neutral; your handling decides.

Can I keep email bodies?

Only with consent and a retention rule; metadata is usually enough for an index.

Is there a ready script for this?

Yes — the Python script exports any IMAP mailbox with the fields listed above; it costs $3 and runs locally.

Related guides

Export researcher email to ExcelStep-by-step with the same columns and command.
All roles20 professions, one export method.