# CSV Import Import contacts in bulk from CSV files - spreadsheets, exports from other tools, or any comma-separated data. RelayBook's import flow gets your data in safely through a staging inbox, and now supports custom fields, labels, and select-option values. > [!quote] Bring Your Data With You > Switching tools shouldn't mean starting from scratch. Import your existing contacts and ==get organized in minutes==. ## How Import Works The import flow has up to five steps depending on your data: 1. **Upload** your CSV file 2. **Map standard columns** - match CSV headers to built-in contact fields 3. **Map custom field columns** - assign any remaining columns to your book's custom fields 4. **Resolve select values** - handle any unrecognised options in select-type custom fields 5. **Preview and import** - review the contacts before they land in your inbox > [!note] Why the inbox step? > Contacts land in your personal [[Import Inbox]] for review before entering a shared book. This prevents duplicates, bad data, or unwanted contacts from affecting your team's workspace. ## Preparing Your CSV Include a header row. Column names are matched automatically - no exact naming required. ``` First Name,Last Name,Email,Phone,Company,Job Title,Labels,Plan John,Smith,[email protected],+1-555-0100,Acme Inc,Sales Manager,Customer; VIP,Pro Jane,Doe,[email protected],+1-555-0200,Beta Corp,CTO,Lead,Starter ``` ### Supported Standard Fields RelayBook auto-detects these column names (case-insensitive): | Field | Recognised Column Names | |-------|------------------------| | First Name | First Name, First, Given Name | | Last Name | Last Name, Last, Family Name, Surname | | Full Name | Name, Full Name, Contact Name | | Email | Email, Email Address, E-mail | | Phone | Phone, Mobile, Cell, Telephone | | Company | Company, Organization, Org | | Job Title | Job Title, Title, Position, Role | | Labels | **Labels, Tags, Label, Tag, Categories** | | Notes | Notes, Comments, Description | | Birthday | Birthday, Birth Date, DOB | | Website | Website, URL, Homepage | | Address | Street, City, State, Zip, Country | > [!tip] Labels column > If your CSV has a **Labels** or **Tags** column, RelayBook automatically maps it and resolves label names to your book's existing labels. Use commas or semicolons to separate multiple labels per contact (e.g. `Customer, VIP` or `Customer; VIP`). Only labels that already exist in the book are applied - unrecognised names are silently skipped. ## Step 1 - Map Standard Columns After uploading, RelayBook shows a mapping screen listing each CSV column with a dropdown. Recognised columns are pre-mapped. Adjust any that need changing, and set unneeded columns to **Skip**. Any columns not mapped to a standard field move on to the next step. ## Step 2 - Map Custom Field Columns If your book has [[Custom Fields]] and your CSV has unmapped columns, RelayBook shows a **Custom Field Mapping** screen. For each unmapped column you can: - Select one of your book's custom fields to map it to - Leave it as **Skip** to ignore it > [!note] > Each custom field can only be mapped to one column. If you select the same field for two columns, the second one is disabled until you change the first. ## Step 3 - Resolve Select Values If any mapped column targets a **select-type** custom field, RelayBook checks the values in your CSV against the field's existing options. For each unrecognised value you choose one of three actions: | Action | What happens | |--------|-------------| | **Skip** | The value is ignored for this import - the field stays empty on those contacts | | **Add as new option** | The value is added to the field's option list and applied to the contacts | | **Match to existing** | Map the CSV value to an option already in the field (useful for spelling variations) | > [!tip] > RelayBook groups duplicate values case-insensitively, so `gold`, `Gold`, and `GOLD` in the same column are treated as one unrecognised value. ## Step 4 - Preview and Import Before importing, RelayBook shows a preview of the contacts that will be created, including: - Name and email - Any custom field values that will be written - Labels that will be applied Click **Edit mapping** to go back and adjust the column mapping at any time. When you're happy, click **Import** to send the contacts to your [[Import Inbox]]. ## After Import Imported contacts appear in your **Import Inbox** - a personal staging area. From there: - Review each contact - Move individual contacts to a book - Use **bulk move** to move multiple contacts at once - Delete any that shouldn't be imported See [[Import Inbox]] for details. ## Exporting From RelayBook If you export contacts from RelayBook and re-import them (to a different book, for example), all columns including **Labels** will round-trip correctly - the export uses the same semicolon-separated format that the importer recognises. > [!success] The Key Idea > CSV Import gives you a safe, multi-step flow: map standard fields, map custom fields, resolve any option conflicts, then review before committing. Your shared books stay clean and intentional. --- **Next:** Learn about the staging area in [[Import Inbox]].