Before you can transform any file, you need to tell WeTransform what your ideal output looks like. That's your target format — the mold every incoming file will be shaped into.
The good news: creating one takes just a few minutes, and you only do it once per file type.
🆕 Step 1 — Create a new target format
From your dashboard, click "Create a new target format". A guided assistant walks you through the setup — no blank page to face.
You'll be asked for two things upfront:
A name — something that describes the format clearly, e.g. "Supplier product catalog" or "Invoice import"
A row label — what does each line in the file represent? A product, an appointment, an invoice, a contact... This helps WeTransform (and your team) speak your language throughout the interface.
💡 Choose a meaningful row label. If each line in your file is a product, type "product". If it's an appointment, type "appointment". This label appears in error messages and correction suggestions — it makes everything more readable for you and your clients.
📋 Step 2 — Add your columns
This is the core of your target format. Add the columns your output file must contain — one by one, or all at once.
Adding columns one by one
Click "Add a column" and fill in:
The column name (e.g.
product_id,price,category)The data type — text, number, date, boolean, list of values, URL, email, etc.
Whether the column is mandatory or optional
Adding columns in bulk
If you already have a spreadsheet that describes your format, you can upload it directly and WeTransform will extract the column names for you. This is the fastest way to get started if you have an existing spec.
⚠️ Common mistake: only creating one or two columns. A target format with a single column won't show you what WeTransform can really do. Aim for at least 5–6 columns that reflect your real use case — with different types and at least one constraint. That's when the magic becomes visible.
🔒 Step 3 — Add constraints to your columns
Constraints are what make your format smart. They tell WeTransform exactly what valid data looks like — so that errors are caught automatically before the file ever reaches your system.
Some useful constraints to add from the start:
📅 Date format — specify the exact format you expect (e.g.
DD/MM/YYYY)🔢 Number format — decimal separator, number of digits, min/max values
📝 List of valid values — for columns like category, status, or country code
📏 Text length — minimum or maximum number of characters
✳️ Mandatory — fields that must always be filled
🤖 Let the AI write your constraints. For advanced constraints (regex patterns, cross-column conditions), you can describe what you need in plain language and WeTransform will generate the rule for you.
✅ Step 4 — You're done
There's no "publish" button — your target format is active as soon as you've added your columns. You can always come back to add more columns, adjust constraints, or configure error handling later.
🔁 You can edit your target format at any time. Adding a new column, tightening a constraint, or updating a list of valid values won't break existing transformations — it will just apply to the next files processed.
👉 What to do next
📂 Load your first file and run a transformation — see your target format in action
🛡️ Configure error handling — guide your clients when their files don't match your format
🔒 Set up access — public or restricted — decide who can send files to this format