When to Use This
Use the spreadsheet import when you:
Already have an item list in a spreadsheet (CSV or Excel) that you want to bring into ContentsPal
Need to add many items with detailed information (name, brand, description, cost, etc.) without typing each one manually
Are migrating data from another system or a pre-existing inventory list
Step 1: Open the Import Dialog
Open your job in the web app
Click Job Settings in the top-right corner
Select Import from CSV/Spreadsheet
Step 2: Prepare Your Spreadsheet
If you don't already have a spreadsheet ready, you can download a sample file to use as a template:
In the import dialog, click Download Sample File
Open the downloaded file in your spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.)
The sample file includes the following columns:
Column | Required | Description |
Name | Yes | The name of the item |
Brand | No | Item brand or manufacturer |
Description | No | Item description or details |
Condition | No | Item condition (e.g., Good, Excellent, Fair) |
Cost | No | Item cost or value |
Room | No | Room to assign the item to |
Box | No | Box or container the item is in |
Quantity | No | Number of this item (defaults to 1) |
Additional optional columns include: Model, Age, Size, Value Classification, and Category.
Fill in your item data, then save the file as CSV or Excel (.xlsx).
Step 3: Upload Your File
Drag and drop your CSV or Excel file into the upload area, or click it to browse your computer
Only one file can be uploaded at a time
Supported formats: CSV (.csv), Excel (.xlsx, .xls)
Step 4: Select the Header Row
After uploading, the dialog displays the first rows of your file in a table.
Click on the row that contains your column headers (e.g., the row with "Name", "Brand", "Description", etc.)
The selected row will be highlighted
This tells ContentsPal which row defines your column names so that the data rows below it are imported as items
If your file doesn't have a header row, click Continue without Header Row and columns will be labeled generically (Column 1, Column 2, etc.).
Step 5: Map Your Columns
After selecting the header row, the column mapping screen appears. Here you tell ContentsPal which columns in your file correspond to which item fields.
Use the Auto Map button to let ContentsPal automatically match your columns — it will recognize common names like "Name", "Brand", "Cost", etc.
Review the mappings and adjust any that weren't matched correctly by selecting the right column from each dropdown
If Auto Map didn't pick up a column, manually select it from the dropdown
The Name field is required (marked with *) — all other fields are optional
If you selected the wrong header row, click Change Header Selection to go back
Once all desired columns are mapped, click Continue to Preview.
Step 6: Preview and Process
The preview screen shows a sample of your items as they will be imported.
Verify that the item names, brands, descriptions, and other fields look correct
If something looks wrong, click Change Column Mapping to go back and adjust
When everything looks good, click Process [N] Items to start the import
A progress bar will appear while items are being processed.
Step 7: Review Your Imported Items
Once processing completes, the dialog closes and your items appear in the job's inventory view.
Go to the Inventory tab to see your imported items
Items will have the name, brand, description, quantity, room, and other fields you provided in the spreadsheet
ContentsPal will automatically run AI pricing and categorization on the imported items in the background
Review the items and make any corrections as needed
Tips for Best Results
Preparing your spreadsheet:
Use the sample file as a starting point to ensure your columns are structured correctly
Make sure every item has a name — rows without a name will be skipped
Use consistent room names across rows so items are grouped correctly
If rooms in your spreadsheet don't exist in the job yet, they will be created automatically
During import:
Use Auto Map first, then fine-tune individual columns if needed
Always check the preview before processing to catch any mapping issues early
After import:
AI will automatically price items and assign categories — this may take a few minutes
You can edit any item individually if corrections are needed
Troubleshooting
Q: My file won't upload A: Make sure the file is in CSV (.csv) or Excel (.xlsx, .xls) format. Other file types are not supported.
Q: The columns didn't map correctly A: Click Change Column Mapping from the preview screen, or Change Header Selection from the mapping screen if you selected the wrong header row.
Q: Some items are missing after import A: Rows without a value in the Name column are skipped. Check your spreadsheet to ensure all items have a name.
Q: The cost shows as $0 after import A: AI pricing runs in the background after import. Wait a few minutes and refresh the page. You can also manually update item costs.
Q: Rooms were created that I didn't expect A: Room names from your spreadsheet are created automatically if they don't already exist in the job. You can rename or delete rooms from the Rooms section in Job Settings.
Need Help?
If you encounter issues:
Go to Help and Support in the sidebar
Visit our support portal: https://support.contentspal.com
Use the chat widget for further support
Last Updated: February 2026