Import files to create new sheets (2024)

Understanding how to import sheets and reports to Smartsheet.

You can import any sheet or report from the following formats:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Project
• Google Sheets
• Atlassian Trello board

To enhance the automation of your data imports, you can import files in two different ways:

• From the top navigation bar, select File > Import.

You can choose from four options to import your data and four options for automating your data import. For more information on automating your import, see Create an upload workflow in Data Shuttle.

• From the top navigation bar, select the Connection menu > Create workflow or Manage workflows to manage your import automation directly from Data Shuttle.

Import always creates a new sheet. To bring data from other programs into an existing sheet, use copy and paste.

Before you import

For successful import, files must meet the following criteria:

• The file can't exceed 50 MB
• You can import up to 20,000 rows, 400 columns, or 500,000 cells at a time
• Microsoft Excel files must be in .xls, .xlsx, or .csv format, and the first tab of the workbook can't be blank
• You must create Microsoft Project files in versions 2007, 2010, 2013, or 2016 and must be in .mpp, .mpx, .mspdi, or .xml format

Formulas aren't preserved.Due to the differences between Excel and Smartsheet formula syntax, you can't import formulas.

To work around this, you can store formulas as text by removing the equal sign from in front of the formula and then save the sheet. Once you open the Excel file, you can add the equal sign back and modify the syntax to make the formulawork in Smartsheet.

Get started with your import

1. On the left navigation bar, select theSolution Center (plus) icon > Import.
2. Select the source application that you're importing from.

Smartsheet prompts you to locate and upload the file from your computer.

3. After you've uploaded your file, type a sheet name and select your Primary column for the sheet.
4. Select Import.

Your imported file appears as a new sheet on Browsein the left panel.

You may need to make manual adjustments to the sheet after it's imported to get it to look and function how you want.

You may notice that the system doesn't retain some aspects of your imported items. Common items that may require adjustments include:

• Capabilities that aren't available in Smartsheet and aren't included in the imported sheet: Merged cells, multiple sheets in a workbook, or cell borders.
• Drop-down lists for data validation, which need to be re-created.
• If you import an Excel sheet or Google Spreadsheet that uses a formula that isn't supported in Smartsheet, an #UNPARSEABLE error message appears in place of the formula.
• Images from an externalfile.

If your imported sheet doesn't contain the data you were expecting, check for hidden worksheets in your Excel workbook. To import the correct data, un-hide all hidden worksheets and move your desired worksheet to the first position.

Microsoft Project has some features, such as constraints, that aren't supported in Smartsheet, and may cause rows to be out of order when importing .mpp files. To resolve this, try saving the .mpp file as .xml and importing the new .xml copy. If the issue persists, reach out to our support team.

Import multiple sheets from a Microsoft Excel workbook

• Import the workbook into Smartsheet once to create a new sheet.
• Go back to the Excel file, select a tab and drag it to the left to move it into the left-most position.
• Save the Excel file, and import it to Smartsheet again. This creates a new sheet based on the information in the tab you just moved into the left-most position.
• Repeat the process until you've created a sheet for each tab in the workbook.
• In Smartsheet, consider moving all of the sheets into afolderorworkspacefor organizational purposes.

What to expect when you import an Atlassian Trello board

If you’re importing an Atlassian Trello board, you can import up to 5,000 cards or 50 lists. If your cards include cover images, note that there is a cumulative 10 MB limit for importing these image files.

• Task NameFields in this column will display the names you used for the cards in Trello. It willbe formatted as atext/numbercolumn.
• ListThis column will contain all of the list names from the Trello board. List names will appear as column set names in Smartsheet's Card View.
• Members This column will include all of the names of Trello board members (the people with whom you shared your Trello board)in a dropdown list.
• Due Date If you've set a due date for a card, it will appear in the field in the Due Date column. This column will be formatted with a date column format.
• Description Description text from the Trello board will be included here. This column will be formatted with atext/numbercolumn.

Additional columns and information on the cards will be included depending on what was included in your Trello Board.

Archived cards will not be imported from Trello.