Cole Stark, Head of Growth
Jan 27, 2025

If you’ve ever tried to open a Parquet file in Excel or Google Sheets, you know it can be a headache: it requires converting your data into CSV, files get enormous, and things can slow to a crawl. But there’s a simpler way: Quadratic. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to read Parquet files, view your data, and even ask AI-powered questions and build visualizations—all from your browser.
What is a Parquet file?
A Parquet file is a popular columnar storage format for handling large, complex datasets. It’s efficient both in how it stores and compresses data. The downside? Many traditional tools like Excel and Google Sheets don’t natively support Parquet, so you end up wrestling with file conversions or writing code to look at what’s inside. With Quadratic, there’s no need for complicated workarounds.
Why use Quadratic to open Parquet files?
Quadratic is an AI-powered spreadsheet you can use directly from your web browser. It’s specifically designed for fast, collaborative data analysis, especially when traditional formulas can’t give you enough insights. Here are just a few reasons to consider Quadratic as your Parquet file viewer:
- Direct Parquet support: No CSV conversions or plugin installations are required. Simply upload your Parquet file and start working. Working with CSVs instead? Use the easiest online CSV editor.
- AI-powered data exploration: Go beyond simple formulas: ask questions about your data with AI, automatically generate SQL, Python, or JavaScript snippets, and even have AI suggest insights.
- Scalable to large datasets: Built on modern web app architecture, Quadratic can handle files with millions of rows, so you can open and read Parquet files online without the slowdowns.
- Data visualization & reporting: Quickly build pivot tables, graphs, charts, and dashboards. Share interactive, live dashboards with just a few clicks.
- Secure & collaborative: Quadratic is entirely SOC 2 and HIPAA compliant, supports real-time collaboration, and even offers self-hosting for enterprise-level security needs.
Step-by-step: how to open Parquet files for analysis with Quadratic
1. Sign up (free) and create a new spreadsheet
Head over to Quadratic and create a free account. Once you’re in, open a new spreadsheet. Quadratic looks and feels like your favorite spreadsheet tool—only much faster and more powerful.
2. Import your Parquet file
In your new spreadsheet, click “Upload file” (or Insert in the top navigation) to upload your Parquet file. You can upload directly from your computer, drag-and-drop it in, or connect to a cloud storage location via a Python API request. This makes it incredibly easy to open Parquet files straight from wherever they’re stored.
3. Explore and edit your data
Once imported, your Parquet file loads as a standard spreadsheet, except this spreadsheet can handle massive datasets without skipping a beat. You can:
- Use formulas like SUM, AVERAGE, or your favorite spreadsheet functions.
- Write Python, SQL, or JavaScript code for complex analysis.
- Filter, sort, and group with zero lag.
- Use AI: ask natural-language questions to gain insights, generate code for advanced analysis, or create models, charts, and other data visualizations.
4. Visualize Your Parquet data
Why stop at reading Parquet files? Quadratic allows you to transform your data into interactive charts and graphs instantly. No extra tools are needed, just select your data range and ask the AI to generate it for you (line charts, bar charts, scatter plots, and more).
5. Share & collaborate in real-time
Need to share your analysis with teammates or clients? Quadratic makes it simple:
- Invite colleagues to your spreadsheet to collaborate simultaneously.
- Easily publish dashboards or links to read-only data views.
- Export your data in multiple formats if needed.
Bonus: ask AI directly about your Parquet file
One of the standout benefits of Quadratic is its native AI integration. Instead of manually creating and updating pivot tables, you can type something like: “What’s the average revenue by region in this Parquet file?” Quadratic will:
- Parse your question in natural language.
- Generate the necessary Python, SQL, or JavaScript code automatically.
- Return the result directly to your spreadsheet or as a new data table or visualization.
No code, no guesswork—just instant insights from your data.
Conclusion
When it comes to how to view a Parquet file, why settle for complicated conversions, paying for cheap tools, or coding from scratch? Quadratic is a powerful, AI-driven platform that eliminates the complexity of reading Parquet files and helps you surface insights quickly. Whether you’re a data scientist or a spreadsheet novice, Quadratic’s intuitive interface and cutting-edge features make it the ideal Parquet file viewer.
- Instantly open and read Parquet files.
- Explore and visualize data at scale, directly in your browser.
- Ask AI for insights, generate advanced analytics, and share results with a click.
Ready to say goodbye to wrestling with large Parquet files? Sign up for Quadratic and see how simple (and powerful) data analysis can be.