Export your VirtualDJ history as a text or CSV file

VirtualDJ stores a record of every song you play during a session. To save that history outside the program, you need to use the built-in export function, which creates a file you can open in a text editor or spreadsheet program. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way in VirtualDJ 8 and newer versions.

Your history file will contain the song title, artist, time played, and duration for each track. You can then import this into other DJ software, share it with other DJs, or keep it as a personal record of your sets.

Key Takeaways

  • Open VirtualDJ and go to the History tab at the bottom of the main window to see all songs you have played.
  • Right-click anywhere in the history list and select "Export" to save your history as a text or CSV file.
  • Choose where to save the file on your computer and give it a name that makes sense, like "DJ_Set_March_2024.txt".
  • Once exported, you can open the file in Notepad, Excel, or any spreadsheet program to view or edit the data.

Finding the History tab in VirtualDJ

When you open VirtualDJ, the main window shows your music library and deck controls. At the bottom of the screen, you will see several tabs including "Browser," "Crates," "History," and others. Click on the History tab to display all the songs you have played in the current session or previous sessions.

If you do not see the History tab, check that you are looking at the bottom panel of the window. Some layouts hide it by default. You can also access history through the menu: go to View > History Panel to turn it on if it is not visible.

Right-click to open the export menu

Once the History tab is open, you will see a list of all your played tracks with columns showing the song name, artist, time, and duration. Right-click anywhere in this list — it does not matter which song you click on. A small menu will appear with several options.

Look for the option that says "Export" or "Export History." Click on it. This opens a file save dialog where you can choose where to store your history file and what to name it.

Save your history file in the right format

When the save dialog opens, you will see a dropdown menu near the bottom that shows the file format. VirtualDJ usually offers two options: Text format (.txt) and CSV format (.csv). Text format is simpler and works in any text editor. CSV format is better if you plan to open the file in Excel or another spreadsheet program, because it organizes the data into columns automatically.

Choose whichever format suits your needs. Then type a filename that describes what the file contains — for example, "Club_Set_March_15.txt" or "Practice_Session_History.csv". Click Save, and VirtualDJ will create the file in the location you selected.

Open and view your exported history

After you save the file, you can open it on your computer like any other document. If you saved it as a .txt file, right-click on it and select "Open with Notepad" (Windows) or "Open with TextEdit" (Mac). The file will display as plain text with each song on its own line, showing the artist, title, time played, and duration.

If you saved it as a .csv file, you can open it in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet program. The data will automatically organize into columns, making it easier to sort, filter, or edit. You can then save this spreadsheet in any format you want, including .xlsx or .xls for Excel.

Export history from multiple sessions

VirtualDJ keeps history from multiple DJ sessions. When you open the History tab, you may see songs from today, yesterday, and earlier dates all mixed together. To export only the songs from a specific session, you can select them manually before exporting.

Click on the first song from the session you want, then hold Shift and click on the last song from that session to select the entire range. Then right-click and choose Export. This will save only the selected songs to your file. If you want all history from all sessions, simply export without selecting anything first.

Troubleshooting export problems

If the Export option does not appear when you right-click, make sure you are right-clicking directly on the history list itself, not on an empty area. Also check that the History tab is actually showing songs — if it is empty, there is nothing to export. Play a few songs and try again.

If VirtualDJ crashes or closes before you finish exporting, your history is still saved inside the program. Open VirtualDJ again, go back to the History tab, and try the export process once more. The songs you played are stored in VirtualDJ's database and will not disappear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export history from only one specific DJ set?

Yes. VirtualDJ organizes history by date and time. Select the songs from the set you want by clicking the first song, holding Shift, and clicking the last song in that set. Then right-click and export. Only the selected songs will be saved to the file.

What program should I use to open a CSV history file?

Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet program will open a CSV file and organize it into columns. You can also open it in Notepad or any text editor, though the formatting will be less organized. Spreadsheet programs are better for sorting or filtering the data.

Will exporting history delete it from VirtualDJ?

No. Exporting creates a copy of your history outside VirtualDJ. Your original history stays in the program and remains available in the History tab. You can export the same history multiple times if needed.

Can I import an exported history file back into VirtualDJ?

VirtualDJ does not have a built-in import function for history files. However, you can open the exported file in a text editor or spreadsheet to view it, edit it, or share it with other DJs. Some third-party tools may allow importing, but the standard VirtualDJ workflow does not support this.

What if my history file is very large and takes a long time to export?

Large history files with thousands of songs may take a minute or two to export. This is normal. Let the process finish without closing VirtualDJ. If it seems stuck for more than five minutes, close VirtualDJ and try again, or export a smaller date range instead of your entire history at once.