Sharper bids start with real samples

Steps

1. Sign in to Microsoft Purview (purview.microsoft.com) as a member of the eDiscovery Manager role group. Admins add members under Settings > Role groups.
2. Select eDiscovery > Cases, open or create a case, and select Create a search.
3. On the Query tab, add the team as a data source.
4. Select Add conditions > Date > Between, set one recent month, and select Run query.
5. Select Export and name it. Select Organize conversation into HTML transcript, Export items with items report, and Create PSTs for messages (or .msg files), then Export.
6. Download the packages from Process manager within 14 days.

Make it a sample

• One team with steady everyday work, one recent month. Standard channels are simplest; private channels are stored separately.
• Leave out teams used for HR or where people share credentials, patient details, card or bank numbers, or anything about children.
• Upload the ZIP files as they are. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• JSON is preferred: a developer can use the Microsoft Graph Teams export API (/teams/{id}/channels/getAllMessages, filtered by date) after an admin approves ChannelMessage.Read.All. An XLSX or CSV export from a tool you already use is fine too.
• Per Microsoft's docs, eDiscovery users need an E3 or E5 license.
• Not an admin? Ask one. Or, in Power Automate, pair the Teams action Get messages in a channel with the Excel action Add a row into a table.
• Teams Free (personal accounts): request Chat history at teams.live.com/dataexport to get a .tar file with messages.json.

Steps

1. In Slack on a computer, click Admin in the sidebar, select Workspace settings, then click Security.
2. Click Import & export data, then the Export tab.
3. Under Export date range, pick the shortest option covering about one recent month.
4. Click Start Export. Slack emails you when it is ready.
5. In the email, click Visit your workspace's export page, then Ready for download to save the ZIP.

Make it a sample

• Unzip the export. Keep one or two busy channel folders (one JSON file per day) plus the top-level files such as users.json and channels.json. Delete the other folders and any daily files outside your month.
• Re-zip and upload. Do not edit the JSON. No need to remove names.
• Leave out channels where people share passwords, API keys, patient details, card or bank numbers, or anything about children.

Good to know

• JSON, Slack's native export, is preferred. A CSV or XLSX export from a tool you already use is fine too.
• The standard export covers public channels only; private channels and DMs need Slack's approval on Business+ or Enterprise. A sample does not need them.
• Exports hold links to files, not the files. Free workspaces only get file links from the last 90 days.
• Enterprise plans: Workspace Owners and Admins can export their workspace's public channels; org-wide exports need Slack Support to enable them first.
• Not an admin? Ask a Workspace Owner or Admin.

Steps

1. In Gmail on a computer, next to Labels, click Create new label, name it Sample, and click Create.
2. Check the box next to each thread you want, click Labels, and select Sample.
3. At takeout.google.com, uncheck every product except Mail.
4. In the Mail row, click the button that lists what is included (it reads like All Mail data included) and uncheck everything except Sample.
5. Click Next step, keep Send download link via email and .zip, then click Create export.
6. In Google's email, click Download archive.

Make it a sample

• Pick 50 to 100 everyday threads with attachments: client requests, scheduling, vendor and internal mail. A shared role mailbox such as info@ works well.
• Leave out threads with passwords or other credentials, patient details, card or bank numbers, or anything about children.
• Upload the ZIP as is. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Takeout cannot filter by date, which is why the label step matters.
• Work account missing Takeout or Mail? Your admin can allow it in the Admin console under Data > Data import & export > Google Takeout.
• Vault (Business Plus, Enterprise, and other editions that include it): in vault.google.com, open a matter, search Gmail for one account over a short date range, click Export, and choose mbox or PST. Download within 15 days.
• For a few messages: open each and click More > Download message (.eml).

Steps

1. Create a mail folder named Sample and copy (not move) 50 to 100 representative messages into it.
2. Export the folder:
   • Classic Outlook for Windows: select File > Open & Export > Import/Export, choose Export to a file, then Outlook Data File (.pst). Select the Sample folder, choose where to save, and select Finish. Skip the password.
   • New Outlook for Windows: Settings > Files > Export, select Get started, then pick the Sample folder.
3. Upload the .pst file.

Make it a sample

• Pick everyday work with attachments: client requests, scheduling, vendor and internal threads. A shared role mailbox such as info@ works well.
• Leave out messages with passwords or other credentials, patient details, card or bank numbers, or anything about children.
• No need to remove names.

Good to know

• A few messages only? In Outlook on the web, select More actions > Download (.eml or .msg); in new Outlook, More actions > Save as.
• Mac: only legacy Outlook for Mac can export (Tools > Export, .olm), and it stops working with Exchange Online in October 2026. Otherwise use Outlook on the web or ask your admin.
• Admins can export one mailbox over a short date range with Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (PST or .msg). It needs the eDiscovery Manager role and, per Microsoft, an E3 or E5 license.
• No Export in new Outlook? Turn off the New Outlook toggle and use classic Outlook.

Steps

1. Pick 5 to 10 recent internal work meetings with transcripts, such as team check-ins or project reviews.
2. Download each transcript:
   • Zoom: in the web portal, open Recordings & Transcripts > Cloud recordings, click the meeting, and download the audio transcript (.vtt).
   • Google Meet: in the organizer's Drive, search "transcript", open the Google Doc, and select File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx).
   • Microsoft Teams: in Chat, open the past meeting chat, select Recap > Transcript, then the arrow next to Download (.docx or .vtt).
   • Otter.ai: open the conversation, click the three dots, select Export, and choose TXT (DOCX needs a paid plan).
   • Fathom: open the call, click Copy Transcript, and paste into a plain text file.
   • tl;dv (Pro or Enterprise plan for both you and the meeting owner): on the Transcript tab, click the copy button and paste into a plain text file.
3. Zip the files together and upload.

Make it a sample

• Leave out HR, medical, personal, and privileged calls, and any meeting where credentials, patient details, card or bank numbers, or children come up.
• Keep each file as the tool produced it. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Transcripts only. Audio and video files are not accepted.
• Zoom needs a Pro, Business, Education, or Enterprise account with cloud recording and audio transcription on.
• Google Meet transcripts need an edition that has them, such as Business Standard or Business Plus.
• Teams: by default only organizers and co-organizers can download; others should ask them.

Steps

1. Sign in to Box in your browser and open the folder that holds the one you want.
2. Click next to the folder's name to select it, then click the download icon in the toolbar at the top right.
3. To take several items, Shift+click them and click Download instead.
4. Box saves a single ZIP file. Upload it here as it is.

Make it a sample

• Pick one real project or client folder with 10 to 20 files of different kinds (documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, slides). Keep its subfolders. A representative folder beats a random pile of files.
• Too big? Take one or two typical subfolders.
• Leave out folders with patient records, card or bank numbers, HR or payroll files about individuals, or anything about children, and files holding passwords, API keys, or other credentials. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Browser folder downloads are limited to 100,000 files and bulk downloads to 150 GB. Empty subfolders are left out.
• You get the current version of each file. Version history, comments, and tasks stay in Box.
• No download option? Ask the folder owner for Viewer access or higher.
• Box Drive also works: right-click the folder in File Explorer or Finder, click Always keep on device, then zip a copy.
• Admins can download a user's folder in Admin Console > Content > Content Manager, up to 50 GB or 10,000 files.

Steps

1. Log in to dropbox.com and open the folder that holds the one you want.
2. Hover over the folder and click the checkbox next to it. Check other items too if you want them.
3. Click Download. Folders download as a ZIP file, usually to your Downloads folder.
4. Upload the ZIP here as it is.

Make it a sample

• Pick one real project or client folder with 10 to 20 files of different kinds (documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, slides). Keep its subfolders. A representative folder beats a random pile of files.
• Too big? Take one or two typical subfolders.
• Leave out folders with patient records, card or bank numbers, HR or payroll files about individuals, or anything about children, and files holding passwords, API keys, or other credentials. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• A folder download must be under 250 GB (uncompressed) and under 10,000 files, counting files in subfolders.
• You get the current version of each file. Version history and comments stay in Dropbox.
• Dropbox Paper docs need one extra step: use Save as on the doc to make a copy in another format, then download that copy.
• Have the desktop app? Right-click the folder in File Explorer or Finder, choose Make available offline, then zip a copy.
• Team admins need nothing special. The Admin console's Export member data is a report about members, not a copy of files.

Steps

1. Go to drive.google.com and find the folder in My Drive or Shared drives.
2. Right-click the folder and click Download.
3. Drive packs it into a ZIP file (a large folder can come as several) and your browser saves it.
4. Upload the ZIP here as it is.

Make it a sample

• Pick one real project or client folder with 10 to 20 files of different kinds (documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, slides). Keep its subfolders. A representative folder beats a random pile of files.
• Too big? Take one or two typical subfolders.
• Leave out folders with patient records, card or bank numbers, HR or payroll files about individuals, or anything about children, and files holding passwords, API keys, or other credentials. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides download as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Other files keep their format.
• You get the current version of each file. Version history stays in Drive, and comments may not come along.
• No Download option? The owner or a shared drive Manager may have turned downloading off for your role. Ask them.
• If the download stalls, try Google Takeout with only Drive selected and just that folder included. Work accounts need an admin to allow Takeout, and the email link can take minutes to days.
• Admins do not need the Workspace Data Export tool. It exports whole accounts and takes days.

Steps

1. Pick one project, client, or deal and gather 10 to 20 documents from it: contracts, reports, proposals, invoices, closing books, memos, specs.
2. Send the files in the format you already have. A Word file is better than a PDF of it, and a PDF generated by software is better than a scan of a printout.
3. For paper-only records, scan at 300 dpi or higher, one PDF per document, pages in order.
4. Put them in one folder and zip it, or add the files directly.

Make it a sample

• Mix document types. Ten different kinds of documents beat a hundred invoices.
• Keep documents whole, with their exhibits and attachments. Do not split or trim pages.
• Keep the original file names and folder structure; they show how the work is organized.

Good to know

• Do not password-protect PDFs. Encrypted files cannot be processed.
• Do not redact names. De-identification is done for you before any buyer sees a file.
• Leave out anything with patient information, bank or card numbers, Social Security numbers, or ID scans.
• Paper archives count once they are digitized. If you have boxes of paper, tell us in the note; do not scan everything for a sample.

Steps

1. In your browser, open OneDrive or the SharePoint site's document library (often Documents) at the level that shows the folder.
2. Select the folder by clicking the circle check box next to its name.
3. Select Download in the top bar, or right-click the folder and select Download.
4. Your browser saves a ZIP file. Upload it here as it is.

Make it a sample

• Pick one real project or client folder with 10 to 20 files of different kinds (documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, slides). Keep its subfolders. A representative folder beats a random pile of files.
• Too big? Take one or two typical subfolders.
• Leave out folders with patient records, card or bank numbers, HR or payroll files about individuals, or anything about children, and files holding passwords, API keys, or other credentials. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Web downloads allow up to 10,000 files and 250 GB per file.
• You get the current version of each file; version history stays behind. Comments come along only if saved inside the file, as in Word.
• OneNote notebooks do not download; the ZIP holds an error note instead.
• A banner saying your organization doesn't allow downloads means an admin blocked them for that site. Ask your admin.
• Bigger folder? The OneDrive sync app also works: in SharePoint, open the folder, select Sync, then zip the synced copy on your computer.

Steps

1. Excel: send the original .xlsx (or .xlsm) file as it is.
2. Google Sheets: open the sheet and choose File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). This keeps every tab.
3. Smartsheet: open the sheet or report and choose File > Export > Export to Microsoft Excel.
4. Airtable: click the arrow next to the view name, then Download CSV. The file follows that view's filters and hidden fields, so pick a view that shows all the columns.

Make it a sample

• Pick working files: a pipeline tracker, a project budget, an underwriting or pricing model, a schedule.
• Keep every tab, formula, and note. They show how the work is done, which a flat copy of the numbers does not.
• If a tracker is huge, a copy with the last 12 months of rows is enough.

Good to know

• Send the spreadsheet, not a PDF of it.
• Smartsheet reports export at most 20,000 rows, and formatting may shift slightly in Excel.
• In Airtable, a shared view can have downloads turned off by its creator. Ask them, or export from the base itself.
• Delete any tab that holds bank or card numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords before sending.

Steps

1. In the sidebar, select ••• next to the space name, then Space settings.
2. Open General and select Export space.
3. Choose HTML, select Next, and pick the pages you want. To send a whole space with its comments and attachments, choose CSV instead.
4. Select Export space. When it finishes, download the file.

Make it a sample

• One active space, or 10 to 20 key pages such as processes, project pages, and meeting notes.
• Upload the ZIP as it is.

Good to know

• Exporting a space needs the space Admin role or the Export space permission. The default Viewer, Collaborator, and Manager roles can only export single pages.
• Not an admin? Open each page, select •••, hover over Export, and choose Export to Word or Export to PDF.
• Only content you can view is exported. HTML export leaves out blog posts and page comments, and PDF never includes comments.
• Atlassian stops supporting XML export in Confluence Cloud on December 1, 2026, so choose HTML or CSV.
• Your organization's admin can block exports.
• Confluence Data Center: go to Space tools > Content Tools > Export, choose HTML and Custom Export, then pick your pages. You need the Export Space permission.
• Leave out pages that hold passwords or API keys, patient data, card or bank numbers, or anything about children. No need to remove names.

Steps

1. Open the top page of the area you want to share, such as a team wiki or handbook.
2. Click ••• at the top right, then Export.
3. Choose Markdown & CSV. Choose HTML instead if you want comments included.
4. Turn on Include subpages. For databases, pick the current view or the default view.
5. Click Export and save the ZIP. Large exports may arrive as an emailed download link instead.

Make it a sample

• Pick one team's pages, or a representative set such as SOPs, project pages, and meeting notes, with their subpages and databases.
• If those pages sit under different top pages, export each one the same way.
• Upload the ZIP files as they are.

Good to know

• With Markdown & CSV, each database becomes a CSV plus a Markdown file per entry.
• Include subpages for PDF needs the Business or Enterprise plan, so use Markdown & CSV or HTML.
• Workspace owners can export everything from Settings > General > Export all workspace content, far more than a sample needs.
• On Enterprise plans, a workspace or teamspace owner can turn off exporting. No Export option? Ask them.
• On Windows, if the ZIP will not open, export again with Create folders for subpages turned off, or unzip it with 7-Zip.
• Skip pages that hold passwords or API keys, patient data, card or bank numbers, or anything about children. No need to remove names.

Steps

1. Go to CRM > Deals or CRM > Tickets. In some accounts, click More first.
2. Narrow the table to one recent slice with the property filters above it or Advanced filters.
3. In the top right of the table, click Export. On a board view, click Board options > Export view.
4. Choose a File format: CSV, XLS, or XLSX.
5. To include every property and linked record, not just the columns in your view, choose All properties and associations on records.
6. Click Export, then download the file from the email HubSpot sends you.

Make it a sample

• Aim for 200 to 500 records, for example deals closed or tickets created in the last 6 to 12 months, or one pipeline.
• Send the file as downloaded. Large exports can arrive as a ZIP, which is fine. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Export works on every HubSpot plan and needs the Export permission. On Enterprise accounts that require export approvals, an approver signs off first.
• Record exports don't include activities such as notes and emails. For call history, export CRM > Calls the same way.
• Download links expire after 30 days.
• Leave out credentials (passwords, API keys), patient data, card and bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and anything about children.
• No Export permission? A Super Admin can run the export or grant it to you.

Steps

1. On the Reports tab, open a report on one object, or click New Report, pick a report type such as Opportunities or Cases, and click Start Report.
2. Set Show Me to all records, set the Date filter to the last 12 months, and filter to closed records. Save, then Run.
3. On the report, click the dropdown arrow and select Export.
4. Choose Details Only, pick .csv, and click Export.
5. Do the same for the history or activities of those records, for example the Opportunity History report or an Activities with Opportunities report.

Make it a sample

• Aim for 200 to 500 records of one object. Shorten the date range if you have more.
• Send the files as exported, zipped together if you like. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Report export works in Essentials and higher editions. No Export option? Ask your Salesforce admin for the Export Reports permission.
• Formatted Report and .xlsx exports cut long text fields to 255 characters. Choose .csv to keep notes and descriptions whole.
• Reports leave out archived activities: events and closed tasks older than a year.
• Skip Setup > Data Export: it builds a full backup, needs the Weekly Data Export permission, and can run only once every 7 or 29 days.
• Leave out credentials (passwords, API keys), patient data, card and bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and anything about children.

Steps

1. In QuickBooks Online, go to Reports > Standard reports and open General Ledger, or Transaction Detail by Account on Essentials and higher.
2. Set the dates to one recent year and run the report.
3. Select Export/Print (or the Export icon), then Export to Excel or Export as CSV.
4. Repeat for Customer Contact List and Vendor Contact List.
5. In QuickBooks Desktop, open General Ledger and your customer and vendor list reports from Reports > Reports Center, then choose Excel > Create New Worksheet. On a Mac, choose Export.

Make it a sample

• One recent year of ledger detail, plus the customer and vendor lists.
• Don't add tax ID or bank account columns to the lists.
• Send the Excel or CSV files as exported. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Don't send a company file, backup, portable file, accountant's copy, or bank download (.QBW, .QBB, .QBM, .QBX, .QBO). They carry far more than we need, including banking details.
• Admins can also use Settings > Export data: pick a date range, switch off what you don't need, and select Export to Excel for one ZIP of Excel files.
• Solopreneur, Free, and Lite plans don't include the General Ledger. Send the Profit and Loss instead.
• The View reports role can't open contact lists.
• Leave out payroll reports, credentials (passwords, API keys), patient data, card and bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and anything about children.

Steps

1. In the Reporting menu, select All reports, then open Account Transactions.
2. Under Accounts, click Select all.
3. Set the Date range to one recent year and click Update.
4. Click Export and choose Microsoft Excel.
5. Optional: in the Sales menu, select Invoices, click Search to set a start and end date, then click Export to get a CSV.

Make it a sample

• One year of account transactions across all accounts is the core sample.
• An invoice export holds up to 500 invoices, which is plenty.
• Send the files as exported. Choose Excel rather than Google Sheets so you have a file to upload. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• You need the administrator role, or the standard role with the reports permission.
• Skip the contacts export. Its CSV includes a column for supplier bank account numbers.
• Don't add payroll reports. In this report, wage payments show as Payroll Employee rather than a name.
• Leave out credentials (passwords, API keys), patient data, card and bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and anything about children.
• No access to reports? Ask an administrator to run the export or give you the reports permission.

Steps

1. Open the project and click the drop-down arrow next to its name.
2. Choose Export/Print > CSV. The file downloads right away, or for a large project Asana emails you a link.
3. Open the same menu and choose Export/Print > JSON. It opens in a new browser tab.
4. Save that tab with Ctrl+S (Cmd+S on a Mac) as a .json file.

Make it a sample

• One project is enough. Pick an active one with real tasks, subtasks, and assignees, not a template.
• If your main project has thousands of tasks, choose a smaller one.
• Send both files as they are. Zip them together if you like.
• Leave out projects that hold patient data, card or bank numbers, passwords, API keys, or other credentials, or anything about children. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Project exports list tasks and their fields (the CSV names each subtask's parent task) but not task comments. That is expected.
• The JSON link only loads for people logged in to Asana, so send the saved file, not the link.
• Skip the full organization export (Enterprise+ and Legacy Enterprise admins, under Admin console > Settings > Domain export). It includes comments but covers everything.
• Work kept outside projects? Asana can also export a saved search or My tasks.

Steps

1. In Jira Cloud, go to Filters > View all work items. If the basic search shows, select JQL.
2. Search one project for a recent window, replacing ABC with your project key: project = ABC AND created >= "-90d" ORDER BY created DESC
3. Select More actions (•••) > Export, then choose the CSV option marked all fields.
4. Jira builds the file in the background. Download it from the notification when it is ready.

Make it a sample

• Aim for 100 to 200 work items. Change -90d to -30d or -180d until the result count fits.
• Pick a project with real discussion. The all fields CSV puts each comment in its own Comment column.
• Upload the CSV exactly as downloaded, without opening or re-saving it.
• Leave out projects that hold patient data, card or bank numbers, passwords, API keys, or other credentials, or anything about children. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Jira Cloud now calls projects "spaces". project = ABC still works in JQL, and so does space = ABC.
• No Export option? Your organization admin may have blocked exports.
• Skip the site backup (Settings > System > Backup manager). It copies the whole site.
• Jira Data Center: run the same search and use its Export menu. CSV exports stop at 1,000 issues by default, plenty for a sample.

Steps

1. Open the board in its main table view.
2. Click the three-dot menu at the top right of the board, then More actions > Export board to Excel.
3. In the window that appears, choose to include updates, and subitems if you use them.
4. Click Export. The Excel file downloads right away.

Make it a sample

• The export includes only items that match the board's current filter. Filter first, for example by status, person, or a date column, until you have roughly 100 to 200 items.
• You can also export one busy group: open the three-dot menu to the left of the group's name and click Export to Excel.
• Keep the .xlsx file as it downloads. Updates land on a separate tab of the same file.
• Leave out boards that hold patient data, card or bank numbers, passwords, API keys, or other credentials, or anything about children. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Only table views export, without group by, sort, or conditional coloring. Other board views are not exported.
• Updates on subitems are not exported, only updates on items. The Auto Number column is not exported either.
• No export option? On Enterprise, admins can turn off exporting to Excel for some roles. Ask your admin.
• Skip the full account export. It holds every board and file in the account.

Steps

1. Open the board.
2. Open the board menu (•••) and select Print, Export, and Share.
3. Choose the JSON export. If it opens in a browser tab instead of downloading, save the page with Ctrl+S (Cmd+S on a Mac) as a .json file.
4. On Premium or Enterprise, you can also choose the CSV export from the same menu.

Make it a sample

• One active board with real cards and comments is enough.
• Send the JSON. It includes the board's 1,000 most recent actions, and those include comments. The CSV has no comments.
• Keep the files as exported. Zip them together if you send both.
• Leave out boards that hold patient data, card or bank numbers, passwords, API keys, or other credentials, or anything about children. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• JSON is hard to read by eye. That is fine; you do not need to open it.
• The CSV covers only cards that are not archived.
• Skip the Workspace export under the Workspace's Settings > Export. It covers every board, needs Premium or Enterprise, and only Workspace admins can run it.
• Cards in your Inbox cannot be exported until you move them to a board.

Steps

1. Data exports are off by default. If needed, the account owner asks Zendesk Customer Support to enable them, naming your Zendesk subdomain.
2. In Admin Center, click Account in the sidebar, then Tools > Reports. Click the Export tab if you see one.
3. Under Full JSON export, pick a short, recent date range, select tickets, and click Export.
4. Zendesk emails a download link, valid for at least three days. Download the zip.

Make it a sample

• Choose a window that covers roughly 100 to 200 tickets. It follows each ticket's latest update, not its creation date.
• Upload the zip as it arrives, without converting the JSON inside.
• Pick a window without tickets holding patient data, card or bank numbers, passwords, API keys, or other credentials, or anything about children. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Needs Suite Growth or higher, or Support Professional or Enterprise. Not on Team plans.
• By default, only admins whose email domain matches the account owner's can export.
• Use JSON, not CSV: the CSV export leaves out ticket comments and descriptions. JSON drops comments only on tickets over 1 MB.
• Can't use data exports? Open an unfiltered view in Support and click Export CSV or Actions > Export as CSV. Zendesk emails a CSV of the view's columns, without comments. On Enterprise, your role needs view export permission.

Steps

1. Copy the repository's clone URL from its Code button (GitHub, GitLab) or Clone button (Bitbucket, Azure DevOps).
2. In a terminal, pack the repository and its full history into one file:

   git clone --mirror <clone-url> repo.git
   cd repo.git
   git bundle create ../repo.bundle --all
   

3. The bundle has no issues or pull requests. On GitHub, save them as JSON with the GitHub CLI:

   gh issue list -R OWNER/REPO --state all --limit 200 --json number,title,body,author,comments,createdAt > issues.json
   gh pr list -R OWNER/REPO --state all --limit 200 --json number,title,body,author,comments,reviews,createdAt > pull-requests.json
   

4. GitLab alternative: Settings > General > Advanced > Export project includes code, issues, and merge requests with comments. Download it from Download export or the email link.

Make it a sample

• Choose one small or medium repository with real commits, branches, and reviews.
• Upload the .bundle (or GitLab .tar.gz) and JSON files as they are.

Good to know

• Remove secrets first: .env files, private keys, API tokens, and passwords in config files. The bundle keeps every past commit, so a secret deleted later is still inside. Revoke or rotate any secret ever committed, or pick another repository.
• Leave out database dumps and customer data exports, patient data, card or bank numbers, and anything about children.
• GitHub's Download ZIP has no history, so use the bundle.
• GitLab Self-Managed may need an administrator to turn on file exports. Export files are cleared every 24 hours, so download promptly.

Steps

1. AutoCAD: open a drawing, type ETRANSMIT, and use Add File for the other drawings. In Transmittal Setups > Modify, choose Zip and turn on Include Fonts. Click OK to build the ZIP with xrefs, images, and plot styles.
2. For PDFs, in each drawing click Output > Export PDF from a layout tab and choose All Layouts.
3. Revit: export sheets with File > Export > PDF, using Selected views/sheets. Then save and close the model and run Add-Ins > eTransmit > Transmit a Model, which copies the .rvt and linked files into a folder. Zip it.
4. SOLIDWORKS: open the model, click File > Pack and Go, select Include drawings and the zip option, then click Save. Save each drawing as a PDF with File > Save As.

Make it a sample

• Pick 3 to 5 real drawings from one project, such as a plan, section, and detail.
• Native files matter most. The PDFs show how each sheet should look.
• Upload the ZIP and PDFs as they are.

Good to know

• Revit eTransmit copies the version saved on disk. If the add-in is missing, zip the .rvt with its linked files.
• Pack and Go finds drawings in the model's folder or search paths. On 3DEXPERIENCE installs, save PDFs with File > Export As.
• Leave out files with passwords or other credentials, patient data, card or bank numbers, or anything about children. No need to remove names.

Steps

1. Pick one property, or a few, and open your system's reports.
2. Run the standard rent roll as of today and export it to Excel or CSV.
3. Export the work order report for the same properties over the last 12 months.
4. If it's easy, add lease expirations, a tenant ledger, or the general ledger for the same period.

Where to find them:

• Buildium: Reports > Rent roll and Reports > Work Orders. Choose the properties and dates, and run the report in XLSX (Excel) format.
• AppFolio owner portal: open a report, select the property and dates, click Update, then use Actions to export to Excel or CSV.
• Yardi, RealPage, Entrata, and AppFolio Property Manager: help pages sit behind your login and menus vary by setup. Export the standard report to Excel; your admin or the vendor's support team can point you to it.

Make it a sample

• One property or a small portfolio: the rent roll plus 12 months of work orders.
• Send the Excel or CSV files as exported. No need to remove names.

Good to know

• Skip full-database exports such as Buildium's Settings > Export Data, which covers every property or vendor.
• Leave out tenant screening reports, occupant lists that include children, credentials (passwords, API keys), patient data, card and bank account numbers, and Social Security numbers.
• Report access depends on your user role. If a report is missing, ask your admin.

Steps

1. Look for Export, Download, or Reports on the list or table view you use every day. Most systems put it in a menu next to the filters, or under Settings or Admin.
2. Filter to a recent, busy slice first (one team, one project, or the last 90 days), then export.
3. Choose CSV or Excel for tables, JSON if it is offered, and the original files for documents.
4. If the only option is a full backup or database dump, stop there. Ask the vendor's support team for a report export instead, or email hello@datashelf.ai and we will suggest a way.

Make it a sample

• A few hundred records with their history (status changes, comments, approvals) beat thousands of bare rows.
• Include a short note on what the export is, which system it came from, and the date range.

Good to know

• Databases: a small CSV extract of the main tables and their column names is enough for a sample. Do not send a full database dump.
• Custom or in-house software counts. Tell us what it does in the note.
• Ask the export assistant on this page if you are stuck. It can walk through most systems.