CSV Import Guide
Import CSV data into any SharePoint list with AI-assisted field mapping, validation preview, and batched execution. Complete the Export → Edit → Re-import round-trip without scripting.
Overview
Round-Trip Workflow
Export list data to CSV, edit in Excel (add formulas, VLOOKUP, bulk corrections), then import the updated file to push changes back into SharePoint.
AI Field Mapping
The AI Column Mapper analyses header text, sample values, and target field types to suggest the best mapping with confidence scores.
Pre-Write Validation
Every cell is validated before writing: required fields, choice values, lookup resolution, date parsing, and more. Use Dry Run to validate without writing.
The 6-Step Wizard
Upload File
Drag-and-drop or browse for a .csv, .tsv, or .txt file. The parser (PapaParse) auto-detects encoding, delimiter, and header row.
Smart detection: Files exported by SP Toolkit are recognised automatically. The wizard pre-selects Update mode and sets the ID column as the match key.
Select Target List
Browse or search the available lists on the connected site and click to select. The list's fields are loaded automatically for mapping. You need Edit permission on the target list.
Map Fields
Each CSV column is listed with a dropdown to select the target SharePoint field. Columns with matching header names are auto-mapped. Use the AI button for intelligent suggestions based on header text, sample values, and field types.
- Auto-match — exact or near-exact header names matched
- AI Column Mapper — confidence-scored suggestions (BYOK AI required)
- Unmapped columns — ignored during import (safe to leave unmapped)
Configure Options
Operation Modes
Insert
Create a new item for every CSV row
Update
Match rows to existing items and overwrite
Upsert
Update if matched, insert if not
Delete
Remove items matching CSV rows by key
Match Keys
Required for Update, Upsert, and Delete modes. Common choices:
- ID — SharePoint item ID (fastest, auto-detected for exports)
- Single field — any unique column (Title, Email, OrderNumber)
- Composite key — combination of multiple fields
Conflict Handling
- Overwrite always — replace the list value with the CSV value
- Skip blanks — only overwrite when the CSV cell is not empty
- Overwrite only changed — skip if existing and new values are identical
Preview & Validate
The preview shows up to 50 rows with colour-coded cells so you can spot issues before writing:
Tip: Use Dry Run to validate the full dataset without writing any data. Dry runs are always free regardless of licence tier.
Execute & Results
Click Execute Import to begin writing. A progress bar shows batch completion with estimated time remaining. When finished, the results report shows:
- Success, failed, and skipped row counts
- Expandable error details per row
- Downloadable results CSV for audit trails
Supported Field Types
| Field Type | Import Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Text / Note | Direct pass-through. Rich text HTML is preserved. |
| Number / Currency | Numeric parsing with currency symbol stripping ($, €, £). |
| Date/Time | Auto-detected format (MDY, DMY, YMD, ISO 8601). Multiple formats accepted. |
| Yes/No | Normalises "true", "yes", "1", "on" → true; others → false. |
| Choice | Validates against allowed values. Multi-choice separated by semicolons. |
| Lookup | Resolves display values to SharePoint item IDs automatically. |
| Person/Group | Resolves email or display name to SharePoint user claims. |
| Managed Metadata | Maps term labels to taxonomy values via the term store. |
| URL / Hyperlink | Accepts plain URLs or "url, description" pairs. |
Licensing
Free Tier
Import up to 100 rows per operation.
Professional / Trial
Unlimited rows. All operation modes.
Dry Run
Always free. Full validation without writing data.
Troubleshooting
All rows show red in preview
Check that the correct target list is selected and fields are mapped. If the CSV was exported from a different list, column names may not match — use the AI mapper or adjust manually.
Lookup values not resolving
The lookup target list must exist on the same site. Display values in the CSV must exactly match items in the lookup list. Check for trailing spaces or casing differences.
Person fields failing
The user must exist in the site's User Information List. Use their email address in the CSV for the most reliable resolution.
Date parsing errors
Ensure dates use a consistent format within each column. The parser accepts ISO 8601, MDY, DMY, and most common formats. Avoid mixing formats in one column.
Step 2 won't proceed
Make sure you have clicked on a list to select it (it should be highlighted). You must have Edit permission on the target list.
Execute button disabled
Resolve all red (error) rows in the preview first, or select the option to skip error rows during execution.
Ready to Try CSV Import?
CSV Import is available in SP Toolkit v1.4.0 and later. Download, install, and start importing in minutes.