# Write Mode

The **"Write Mode"** field determines system behavior when a CSV file with the same name already exists in the destination folder. The system offers two distinct approaches:

[![image-1756458361123.png](https://manual.vtenext.ch/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/i21rcHSWWup0mJtD-image-1756458361123.png)](https://manual.vtenext.ch/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/i21rcHSWWup0mJtD-image-1756458361123.png)

<div id="bkmrk-overwrite%3A-represent"><div data-test-render-count="1"><div><div data-is-streaming="false"><div><div><div>- **Overwrite:** represents the complete replacement approach. 
    - Advantages: 
        - Always ensures updated and consistent data
        - Prevents accumulation of duplicate files
        - Maintains clean folder organization
    - Disadvantages: 
        - Permanent loss of the previous version
        - Inability to recover historical data
    - Ideal usage: Recurring exports where only the most recent version is needed
- **Append:** adds new data to the existing file, with new records queued at the end of the existing file. 
    - Advantages: 
        - Preserves all historical data
        - Creates a cumulative archive over time
        - Allows trend analysis and temporal comparisons
    - Disadvantages: 
        - Possible data duplication
        - Files growing in size over time
        - Need to manage multiple headers
    - Ideal usage: Activity logs, historical archives, incremental data collection

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