Free Metro 2 Preview Tool
Drag a .dat fixed-width file, .csv, or Excel export and we'll show summary counts, first records, and first structural findings. Nothing is uploaded — your file stays on your device.
Drag a Metro 2 file here, or click to choose
.dat fixed-width · .csv · .xlsx / .xls · up to 50.0 MB
Metro 2 is the standard format every furnisher uses to report tradelines to Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis. The only existing viewer is TSB's Windows desktop app — Windows-only, requires an install, and ships with no inline CRRG citations. We built a free web alternative because we already maintain the full validation engine for paid customers and a capped in-browser preview is the safest way to show whether a file has obvious structural problems. If you decide you want complete issue lists, server-side validation, bureau delivery, or the full 240-rule CRRG suite, start in the portal.
Every CRRG field with allowed values, common errors, and tips.
Decode 11, 13, 71, 78, 80, 82, 84, 97, DA, DF and more.
Bureau rejection codes by segment with fix suggestions.
Drag the file onto the viewer above or click 'Choose file'. The preview parses the Record Descriptor Word (RDW), counts each base segment, and shows a capped set of decoded records and findings. The file is parsed entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Metro 2 is the standard credit reporting format defined by the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA). It is a fixed-width text format: every record begins with a 4-byte RDW, the 426-byte base segment, and any combination of optional J1/J2/K1-K4/L1/N1 supplemental segments. Every furnisher who reports to Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, or Innovis must produce a Metro 2 file.
Yes. Drop a .csv, .xlsx, or .xls file and the preview will auto-detect likely field mappings (account number, status code, ECOA code, etc.) and show the first rows plus a mapping summary.
No. The parser, validator, and decoder are all pure JavaScript that run in your browser tab. Open your browser's network inspector while you parse a file and you will see zero outbound requests with file contents. We chose this design specifically so credit-reporting professionals can safely inspect production files containing PII.
50 MB (roughly 100,000 base records). Files above that size start to stall the main thread in most browsers; we cap there and recommend the server-side validator (included in paid plans) if your file is larger.
It runs a fast browser-side structural pass and shows counts plus a capped preview of findings: RDW vs declared length, HEADER/TRAILER presence and ordering, trailer count cross-check, account status and ECOA code sets, future-dated fields, and an FCRA 7-year obsolescence warning. Full issue lists, reports, and the 240-rule CRRG suite run in the portal.
Every field name, allowed value, and validation rule shown in the viewer is mirrored from the published CDIA Credit Reporting Resource Guide. Click any field name to deep-link into the BureauRelay reference library.
The free viewer shows a capped structural preview only. The portal runs the full 240-rule CRRG validation suite, generates bureau-ready files, and delivers to Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis.
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