> ## Knowledge Base Index
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> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Importing Clients

Already have a list of clients in a spreadsheet? ALIVE lets you import them in bulk so you don't have to type each one manually. The import tool supports CSV and Excel files and intelligently maps your columns to client fields.

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## Starting an Import

1. Go to the **Clients** tab in your dashboard
2. Click the **Import** button (upload icon) next to the New Client button
3. The import modal opens

[screenshot: Import clients modal with file upload area]

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## Supported File Formats

You can upload:

- **CSV files** (.csv) — Comma-separated values
- **Excel files** (.xlsx, .xls) — Microsoft Excel spreadsheets

Just drag and drop your file into the upload area, or click to browse your files.

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## Column Mapping

After uploading your file, ALIVE reads the column headers and **automatically maps** them to client fields. The system recognizes common header names like:

- **Name fields** — "Name", "Full Name", "Client Name", "Contact Name", "First Name" + "Last Name"
- **Email fields** — "Email", "E-mail", "Email Address"
- **Phone fields** — "Phone", "Mobile", "Cell", "Telephone", "WhatsApp"
- **Company fields** — "Company", "Business", "Organization"
- **Notes fields** — "Notes", "Comments", "Description"

If a column isn't recognized automatically, you can manually assign it to any field using the dropdown, or choose **Skip** to exclude it from the import.

| If your spreadsheet has separate "First Name" and "Last Name" columns, ALIVE automatically combines them into a single name field during import.

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## Reviewing Before Import

Before the import runs, you'll see a **preview** of the data:

- A sample of rows from your file
- How each column is mapped
- Any potential issues or warnings

Review the mapping carefully and adjust any columns that aren't mapped correctly.

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## Running the Import

Once you're happy with the mapping:

1. Click **Import** to start
2. The system processes each row and creates client records
3. You'll see a **summary** when it's done — how many clients were created successfully and any that were skipped

After the import completes, your new clients appear in the client list immediately.

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## Tips for Clean Imports

- **Include headers** — Make sure your spreadsheet has a header row with column names
- **One contact per row** — Each row should represent one client
- **Clean up duplicates** before importing — the system creates a new record for every row
- **Name is required** — Rows without a name value will be skipped
- **Check phone formats** — Include country codes if you plan to use SMS features

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## What's Next?

- [Client Database](/en/article/client-database)
- [Bookings and Calendar](/en/article/bookings-and-calendar)
- [Business Tools Overview](/en/article/business-tools-overview)