Stackroom

Importing assets with a CSV

A complete guide to preparing and importing your asset data using a CSV file — file requirements, standard columns, custom fields and troubleshooting.

6 min read

Import assets by exporting your existing list to CSV with one row per asset and a header row, then mapping each column to a Stackroom field. Only a name is required. Categories, locations and departments are created from the values in your file, and re-importing updates rather than duplicates.

Stackroom lets you bring your existing inventory in from a CSV (comma-separated values) file. It uses a template-based approach with validation, so your data lands cleanly and nothing is silently dropped.

Just switching from another tool? Export your data from it as CSV first — most tools and spreadsheets can. Then follow this guide, or ask us for a white-glove migration from the Migration Center.

Before you start

  • Export or build a spreadsheet with one row per asset.
  • Save it as .csv (UTF-8 encoding is safest).
  • Keep the header row — column names are how Stackroom maps your data.

Standard columns

These columns map to core asset fields. Only name is required; the rest are optional but recommended.

  • Columnname
    RequiredYes
    ExampleDeWalt Impact Driver
  • Columncategory
    RequiredNo
    ExamplePower tools
  • Columnbrand
    RequiredNo
    ExampleDeWalt
  • Columnmodel
    RequiredNo
    ExampleDCF887
  • Columnserial
    RequiredNo
    ExampleSN-48213
  • Columnlocation
    RequiredNo
    ExampleNorth Site
  • ColumnpurchasePrice
    RequiredNo
    Example199.00

Custom fields

Any extra column you include becomes a custom field on the imported assets, so your own attributes come across too — add as many as you need.

Import in four steps

  1. 1
    Upload your file

    Choose your .csv in the importer. Stackroom reads the header row to detect your columns.

  2. 2
    Map your columns

    Confirm how each column maps to a Stackroom field, or leave extras as custom fields.

  3. 3
    Review validation

    The importer flags rows with issues before anything is created, so you can fix and re-upload.

  4. 4
    Confirm the import

    Approve, and your assets are created — ready to label, assign and track.

Troubleshooting

  • Rows rejected? Check for missing names or malformed numbers in price fields.
  • Odd characters? Re-save the file as UTF-8 CSV.
  • Wrong mapping? Rename the header to match the standard column, or remap during import.

Migrating a large or complex catalog? Send us your export and we'll handle the import with you — see the Migration Center.

Frequently asked questions

What format does the CSV need to be in?

A standard comma-separated file with a header row and one row per asset, saved as UTF-8. Most spreadsheets and asset tools export this directly. Only the name column is required; everything else is optional but worth including while you are there.

Will importing twice create duplicates?

No, provided the rows carry a code you already track. Matching on an existing reference updates the record instead of creating a second one, which is what makes a re-import safe after you have corrected a column.

Can I import custom fields?

Yes. Any extra column becomes a custom field on the imported assets, so attributes you already track come across rather than being flattened away.

What happens to rows with errors?

They are reported rather than silently dropped, with the reason. Fix those rows and re-import just them, or correct the source file and import the whole thing again.