Most churches arrive with a list already — a spreadsheet, or an export from whatever they used before. Importing it is the fastest way to make the rest of the product useful, because groups, messaging and giving all read from People.
Start from the example file
The import screen has a Download example CSV button. Use it. It is the definitive answer to "which columns do I need?" — far more reliable than guessing from a help page, because it comes from the same code that reads your file.
- Fill the example in with your own people, keeping its headings.
- Save as CSV — export from Excel or Google Sheets rather than renaming an
.xlsx. - Give each person their own row.
- Include an email address or phone number wherever you have one — a record without either cannot be messaged or invited later.
Running the import
- Open People, click the + button (People actions), and choose Import Members.
- Download the example CSV if you have not already, and match your file to it.
- Drop your CSV onto the upload area, or click it to pick the file.
- Read the summary that appears: how many rows are in file, how many are ready to import, and how many need attention.
- Use Preview all to look through the rows before committing, or Choose a different file to start over.
- Import, and wait for the result.
Reading the result
The result counts four outcomes: imported (new records created), updated (existing people matched and amended), skipped (nothing to do) and failed. Failures are listed individually, each naming the line number in your file and what was wrong with it, so you can correct the file and run it again.
Importing the same file twice
Re-importing updates people it recognises instead of duplicating them, so correcting your file and running it again is safe. It is the intended way to fix a partly-failed import.