Sometimes you need your data outside Stax.ai CX — a census file for your compliance software, or a progress report for your team. CX can export a plan's participant census data to Excel in a standard format, or in formats tailored for FTWilliam.com and Datair. You can also export the Plan Admin table itself to share status across your whole book of business.
Prerequisites
You can view the plan and its participants in Plan Admin.
For FTWilliam.com or Datair exports, the matching integration must be set up first. Go to Integrations in Settings to configure it, or see the related articles below.
Export a census file
Click Plan Admin in the left sidebar.
Open the participants list for the plan you want to export.
Select the plan year you want in the filter bar.
In the top right corner, click More, then select Configure Census Export. The export configuration opens.
Choose your export format (see "Export formats explained" below).
Check or uncheck Include employees with zero compensation, based on what you need.
Save your configuration. An Excel file downloads to your Downloads folder.
Note: CX remembers your export configuration. Next time, you can click More > Export Census File to export again with the same settings.
Export formats explained
Standard — Stax.ai's default. A standardized layout with all relevant participant information: first name, last name, Social Security Number, hire dates, and compensation, along with any custom participant fields your firm has set up.
FTWilliam.com — a grid formatted for direct import into FTWilliam.com, including the FTWilliam Grid ID. Make sure your integration settings match FTWilliam's import requirements.
Datair — a grid formatted for import into Datair.
Tip: Including employees with zero compensation can matter for complete data analysis. When in doubt, include them.
Custom fields travel with the census file
If your firm has set up custom Employee or Employee Census fields, they aren't left behind when data moves in and out of CX.
Custom fields are included in the census export, so whatever you track alongside the standard data comes with it.
They're also read back in on census import. That makes the spreadsheet the fastest way to fill in a custom field for a whole plan — export, fill the column, import.
See Viewing and Managing Participants for how to create custom fields and the difference between the Employee and Employee Census kinds.
Review your exported file
Open the downloaded Excel file and look for cells highlighted in red.
Scan the file for red-highlighted cells. Red means CX found an issue — such as an invalid Social Security Number or a data inconsistency.
Return to CX and fix the underlying data on the participant's record.
Export again if needed. A clean file has no red highlights.
Export the Plan Admin table
To share plan status or manage workload offline:
Click Plan Admin in the left sidebar.
Apply filters so the table shows just the plans you want (by assignee, plan type, or other attributes).
Click Export. The current view downloads as an Excel file.
This is a quick way to build progress reports or rebalance assignments across your team.
You're all set! Your data is out of CX and ready to use.
Tips
Filter first, export second. The Plan Admin export includes only what's in your current view.
Editing the spreadsheet isn't the same as editing CX. Corrections you make in an exported file stay in that file. Fix participant data in CX so the platform recalculates — the exception is a census import, which is designed to bring data back in.
Set your format once. Configure the export for the software you use, and future exports are one click.
Related articles
Plans Overview
Viewing and Managing Participants
Participant Census Data and Statuses
Configuring an FTWilliam.com Census Grid
Datair Integration