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CSV file format

Import clients & projects​

You can mass import projects, clients, tasks, and tags to Clockbook from a file. This feature is available on the free plan. Only admins can import data.

If you have a paid subscription, you can also import time entries.

How to import data​

  1. Go to Time Tracker > Import
  2. Click Upload CSV file and select file from your computer
  3. Review how many items will be created and click Start import
  4. When finished, you’ll get a confirmation message

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Required CSV format​

  • Values need to be comma-separated
  • Columns must have headers in English. Values: Client, Project, Task, Tags
  • Maximum file size is 1 MB

CSV file example​

You can create a CSV file: By opening an Excel file and then go Save as and choose CSV format; or by opening a plain text editor (like Notepad) and putting headers in the first row (where you separate values with a comma), and listing values in new rows.

Download example CSV file

 Project, Client, Task, Tags
 ProjectA1,ClientA,,
 ProjectB1,ClientB,,
 ProjectB2,ClientB,TaskB1,
 ProjectC1,,TaskC1,
 ProjectC2,,TaskC1,Tag1
 ,,,"Tag2,Tag3"

Notes​

  • File can have a single column or their combination (task column requires at least project column)
  • If you don’t group projects by Client, the column name must match what you’ve set in workspace settings (e.g. department, category…)
  • The order of the columns is not important. Names are case sensitive.
  • Multiple tags can be imported by surrounding tags in double quotes and separating with a comma (e.g. “tag1, tag2, tag3”)
  • If an item already exists, it will be skipped during the import. Only items that don’t already exist will be created.
  • When you upload a file, it will be first analyzed. If there’s an error, you’ll get a message and won’t be able to proceed.
  • You can import only projects, clients, or tags by creating a CSV file with a single column.
  • You can import projects and their respective client by including both columns.
  • If you import tasks, you need its project column.
  • Projects will inherit initial private/public and billable/non-billable status based on New projects are by default workspace settings.

Max character limits​

  • Description: 3,000
  • Task: 1,000
  • Project: 250
  • Client: 100
  • Tag: 100

Importing multiple tasks​

You can import multiple tasks for the same project by including an additional line for the same project and specifying a different task.

    Project,Client,Task
    ProjectA,ClientA,Task1
    ProjectA,ClientA,Task2
    ProjectA,ClientA,Task3

You can also add a task in bulk to existing projects:

  1. Go to Summary report
  2. Group by Project / (None)
  3. Select a long date range
  4. Export as CSV
  5. Open CSV in Excel or Google Sheets
  6. Delete time columns
  7. Add Task column and write new task name everywhere
  8. Save as CSV
  9. Import the new CSV file