Prepare your CSV file - Relaticle  

    [Importing data](https://relaticle.com/help/import)

 Prepare your CSV file 
=======================

File requirements, column naming, and formatting rules that make an import succeed on the first try.

 Updated August 13, 2026

 A CSV imports cleanly when it is UTF-8 encoded, has headers in the first row, and formats each column consistently. This page covers the rules; the [walkthrough](/help/getting-started/import-your-existing-data) covers the clicks.

[](#file-requirements "Permalink")File requirements
---------------------------------------------------

| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Format | CSV (comma-separated values) |
| Encoding | UTF-8 |
| Maximum rows | 10,000 per file |
| Maximum size | 10MB |
| Headers | Required in the first row |

In Excel, use **Save As → CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)**. Excel's default CSV encoding breaks accented characters.

[](#required-columns "Permalink")Required columns
-------------------------------------------------

Only one column is required per record type:

| Record type | Required column |
|---|---|
| Companies | Name |
| People | Name |
| Opportunities | Name |
| Tasks | Title |
| Notes | Title |

Every other column is optional; a blank cell simply leaves that field empty.

[](#custom-field-columns "Permalink")Custom field columns
---------------------------------------------------------

Name custom field columns with the prefix `custom_fields_` followed by the field's code:

```
custom_fields_industry
custom_fields_emails
custom_fields_website

```

Find each field's code in **Settings → Custom Fields**, under the **Code**column. The wizard also auto-maps close names, so a column called "Industry" usually lands on the Industry field without the prefix. The prefix makes the match exact.

[](#format-values-by-field-type "Permalink")Format values by field type
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

| Field type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Plain text | `Technology` |
| Number | Digits only, no symbols | `50000` |
| Date | YYYY-MM-DD, DD/MM/YYYY, or MM/DD/YYYY | `2024-03-15` |
| Email | Valid email(s), comma-separated | `john@acme.com,jane@acme.com` |
| Select | The exact option label | `Enterprise` |
| Multi-select | Comma-separated option labels | `CRM,Analytics` |
| Boolean | true/false, yes/no, or 1/0 | `true` |

[](#do "Permalink")Do
---------------------

- Include headers in the first row.
- Quote values that contain commas: `"Last, First"`.
- Keep one consistent format within each column, especially dates.
- Test with a small sample (5-10 rows) before importing the full file.

[](#dont "Permalink")Don't
--------------------------

- Use Excel's default encoding; pick "CSV UTF-8".
- Mix date formats in the same column (`2024-03-15` and `03/15/2024`).
- Include currency symbols in numbers; use `50000`, not `$50,000`.
- Leave empty rows at the end of the file.

[](#get-a-ready-made-template "Permalink")Get a ready-made template
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Export a few existing records from any list. The exported file includes the `id` column and every custom field your workspace uses, already named correctly. Delete the rows, keep the headers, and fill in your data.

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