Export an Apache Superset Dashboard 2026

Export an Apache Superset dashboard to PDF, PNG, YAML, or via REST API. Step-by-step.

9 May 2026 · Tuvalu Tech OÜ

Exporting an Apache Superset dashboard is useful for off-app sharing, backup, versioning, or migration between instances. Several formats are available, each with its use cases. This guide details the options for 2026.

1. Export formats

Format	Use case
PNG	Quick preview, slide deck
PDF	Executive reporting, archivable
CSV (per chart)	Raw data for Excel
YAML/ZIP	Backup, Git versioning, migration

If you want preconfigured exports, TVL Managed Superset includes PNG/PDF exports with Chrome headless by default.

2. PNG export via UI

Open the dashboard;
Top-right "..." menu → Download as image;
PNG downloaded (Chrome headless rendering server-side).

Prerequisite: Chrome installed in the Superset worker.

3. PDF export via UI

Same as PNG but PDF format, multi-page if dashboard has tabs.

4. CSV export per chart

Open a chart;
Chart "..." menu → Download → CSV;
Chart data downloaded.

Limited to displayed data (not raw SQL).

5. YAML/ZIP export via UI

Dashboards → select;
Bulk actions → Export;
ZIP downloaded containing the dashboard YAML and its linked datasets/charts.

Reimportable format on any compatible Superset instance.

6. YAML export via CLI

# A dashboard
docker exec superset_app superset export-dashboards \
  -d 42 -f /tmp/dashboard_42.yaml

# All dashboards
docker exec superset_app superset export-dashboards \
  -f /tmp/dashboards.yaml

This configuration is applied by default on TVL Managed Superset, which follows community best practices.

7. Export via REST API

curl https://superset.example.com/api/v1/dashboard/42/export/ \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  --output dashboard_42.zip

Ideal for CI/CD or Airflow automation.

8. Git versioning

Recommended workflow:

Nightly job that exports all dashboards as YAML;
Automatic push to a dedicated Git repo;
PR review for significant changes;
Allows granular rollback of a dashboard.

9. Common pitfalls

Missing Chrome: blank PNG/PDF exports;
Missing datasets on import: YAML references absent datasets;
Different Superset versions source/target: breaking format;
Permissions: exporting requires Alpha+ rights;
Incorrect WEBDRIVER_BASEURL: empty screenshots.

10. Conclusion

Apache Superset export offers the flexibility needed for the majority of needs: reporting (PDF/PNG), data extraction (CSV), backup/versioning (YAML). For a clean CI/CD workflow, automating daily YAML export to Git is the best practice.

Want the benefits of Apache Superset without the friction of installation and maintenance? Deploy your instance in 3 clicks with TVL Managed Superset, hosted in Europe (OVHcloud, Roubaix, France).

For more: import a dashboard, Superset CLI, REST API.