CSV Import Guide

Tangram's CSV import system allows you to bulk import data into your application.

What can you import?

You can import data for:

  • Users - Create new user accounts or update existing ones
  • Listings - Import products, services, or any custom listing types
  • Custom Records - Any custom data types you've defined in your app
Preparing your CSV file
CSV Format Requirements:
  • File must be in CSV format (.csv extension)
  • First row should contain column headers
  • Use comma (,) as the delimiter
  • Properly escape special characters and quotes
  • UTF-8 encoding is recommended
Importing photos

You can import photos for users and listings by including photo URLs in your CSV file:

Photo Import Format:
  • Add columns named photos_0, photos_1, photos_2, etc.
  • Each cell should contain a URL to the photo (e.g., https://example.com/image.jpg)
  • For users: photos_0 will be set as the avatar/profile picture
  • For listings: All photo columns will be added as listing photos
  • Photos must be publicly accessible URLs
  • Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP
Example CSV with Photos
email,name,photos_0,photos_1,photos_2
john@example.com,John Doe,https://example.com/avatar.jpg,https://example.com/photo1.jpg,https://example.com/photo2.jpg
jane@example.com,Jane Smith,https://example.com/jane-avatar.jpg,,

Note: Leave cells empty if you don't have photos for all columns.

Step-by-step import process
  1. Navigate to the import section
    Go to Settings > Integrations > Import. Create a new import object.
  2. Upload your CSV file
    Select your prepared CSV file. The system will parse it and display the detected columns.
  3. Map your columns
    Match each column from your spreadsheet to the corresponding field in Tangram:
    • Select the spreadsheet column from the dropdown
    • Choose the matching system field
    • Add mappings for all columns you want to import
  4. Review warnings
    The system will display warnings about:
    • Missing ID columns (for updates vs. new records)
    • Required fields that aren't mapped
    • Special considerations for your data type
  5. Run the import
    Click "Run Import" to process your data. The import will run in the background.
Important considerations
ID Column Mapping

Without ID column: New records will be created for each row
With ID column: Existing records will be updated based on the ID

Note: Imports with ID columns cannot be undone after completion.

User Imports

User imports require either:

  • An ID column to update existing users, OR
  • An email field to create new users

Without either field, no user records will be imported.

After the import
  • Processing: Large imports may take time. The page will show "Processing..." status.
  • Success: Once complete, you'll see how many records were imported.
  • Undo option: For imports without ID columns, you can undo the entire import.
  • Errors: If the import fails, error messages will help you identify and fix issues.
Troubleshooting common issues
Issue Solution
CSV parsing error Check for unmatched quotes, special characters, or incorrect delimiters in your CSV
Import button disabled You need to map at least one column before running the import
No records imported Verify required fields are mapped (e.g., email for new users)
Duplicate records created Map an ID column to update existing records instead of creating new ones
Photos not importing Ensure photo URLs are publicly accessible, use correct column names (photos_0, photos_1, etc.), and check that URLs are valid image formats
Tips
  • Always test with a small sample of your data first
  • Keep a backup of your original CSV file
  • You can re-upload a CSV file while keeping your column mappings intact
  • Use the preview to verify your mappings before running the import