Choose an export format
Cycle admins can export a cycle in two formats:- PDF ZIP: Creates a ZIP file with one PDF review packet for each selected employee. Windmill emails you when the file is ready.
- CSV: Downloads the answers for one review stage to your browser as a spreadsheet.
Export review PDFs
1
Open the cycle export
From Performance Reviews, open the cycle. Select Admin > Export.
2
Choose PDF ZIP
Select PDF ZIP, then select Next.
3
Select the review data
Select one or more enabled manager, self, peer, or upward stages, and the questions to include.Windmill selects all available stages and all employee-visible questions by default. Questions hidden from employees are not selected by default.
4
Select the employees
Select all employees in the cycle, filter by manager or group, or select specific employees.
5
Start the export
Review your selections, then select Start export. Windmill emails you when the file is ready.
6
Download the ZIP file
Select Download export in the email.Only the cycle admin who started the export can use the link, and they must still be a cycle admin. The link is valid for 48 hours.
PDF packet contents
Each PDF contains only the completed reviews that you selected. Draft and unsubmitted reviews are not included. For a complete record, export after all reviews and calibration are complete. The PDF shows the review period, generation date, reviewer identity where visible, selected questions, and submitted answers. It marks reviews as completed but does not show submission times. If you include yourself in an export, your packet includes your self review and any manager-review content that was shared with you. It does not include peer or upward feedback about you. The ZIP file also containsmanifest.csv. If the export is incomplete, use this file to find the PDF files that Windmill could not create. Start a new export for those employees or contact support@gowindmill.com.
Export a review CSV
1
Open the cycle export
From Performance Reviews, open the cycle. Select Admin > Export.
2
Choose CSV
Select CSV, then select Next.
3
Select the review data
Select one review stage and the questions to include. To export ratings, select the stage and question that contain the rating.
4
Select the employees
Select all employees in the cycle, filter by manager or group, or select specific employees.
5
Download the CSV file
Review your selections, then select Start export. The file downloads to your browser.
Export final ratings
Include the manager stage and rating questions in a PDF ZIP export. The PDF shows effective submitted answers. Where calibration changed an answer, it shows separate Manager Rating and Calibrated Rating values. Recommended values become final only after the assigned manager accepts them.Export through the API
Use the packet export API with an API key belonging to a cycle admin. It returns one packet per included reviewee and can filter the cycle’s saved reviewee list. The response includes stage status, dates, completion totals, questions, and visibility settings. Review data includes reviewers, submission status, submitted answers, and answer submission times. Manager and self reviews also include a review submission time.- submittedOnly: false: Includes incomplete review records with null submitted answers. Draft answer content is never included.
- submittedOnly: true: Omits incomplete reviews. Stage completion totals stay the same.