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Upload attendees from a CSV file

Register a whole list of attendees at once by uploading a CSV file to your event, with the option to check them in or send their confirmations.

When you already have your attendees in a spreadsheet, you do not need to add them one by one. Save the list as a CSV file and upload it, and everyone in it is registered for the event in one go.

Who can upload, and when
Owners, Admins and Managers can upload attendees. The Upload button shows once the event is published.

  1. Open the upload window

    Click Upload above the attendee list.

    The window shows how many rows one file can hold, for example "Max 50 rows per file." Check it before you prepare a large file.

  2. Name your columns

    Make the first row of your file the column names listed under CSV columns. Copy header row copies them all at once.

    • Required columns: first_name, last_name, email and phone. Every file needs all four, spelled exactly like that.
    • Every row needs a first and last name. Email and phone can be left empty on a row, but the columns must be there.
    • Write phone numbers with the country code, starting with +.
    • Additional columns: if your event asks its own questions, they are listed here with the column name to use. Any marked required must be in the file.
    • Any other column in your file is ignored.

    If the event uses attendee types, you can add an attendee_type column with the type's name on each row. Rows without one get the default type you choose in the next step.

  3. Choose your upload options

    Turn on Mark as attended or Send registration confirmation if you want them. Both start off.

    • Mark as attended: checks everyone in the file straight in. Use it for people who were already at the event.
    • Send registration confirmation: sends each attendee their confirmation once they are imported, by email, and by WhatsApp when their row has a phone number. It is greyed out while Mark as attended is on, because checked-in uploads do not send confirmations.
    • Default attendee type: shown only when the event uses attendee types. It applies to rows without an attendee_type value.

  4. Choose your file

    Click Choose a CSV file, or drag your file onto the box.

    The box then shows how many rows were found, and a preview of the first three rows appears below it. Check the column names in the preview match the list above.

    Only CSV files are accepted. In most spreadsheet apps, use Save As or Download and pick CSV.

  5. Tip: need more than 50 rows per file?

    Click Request a higher limit to ask for up to 5,000 rows per file.

    You only see this button when your window says "Max 50 rows per file." Our team reviews the request and emails you once it has been decided. Accounts on a paid plan already have the higher limit.

  6. Upload it

    Click Upload.

    Upload stays greyed out until a file with rows has been chosen.

    A file of 50 rows or fewer is registered straight away. A larger file imports in the background: a progress bar shows how many rows are done, and you can keep the window open while it runs. Cancel import stops it, and anyone already registered stays registered.

  7. Check what happened

    A message at the top of the screen, or a summary in the window, tells you how the upload went.

    • Attendees uploaded successfully!: every row was registered, and the window is ready for another file.
    • Import complete: shown when a larger file finishes, or when any row failed. It shows how many were registered and how many rows failed.
    • Import cancelled: you stopped the import. It shows how many were registered before it stopped.
    • Import is taking longer than expected. Check the attendees list shortly.: the import is still running. Check the attendee list in a few minutes.

    When rows fail, the window lists each one with its row number and the reason. Download failed rows saves just those rows, so you can fix them and upload that file on its own.

  8. If something is not working

    The usual reasons a file or a row is refused.

    • "Invalid file format. Please upload a CSV file.": the file is not a CSV. Save it as CSV and choose it again.
    • "That file has no rows.": the file has column names but no attendees under them.
    • "This file is missing the email column.": a required column is missing or spelled differently. The message lists the columns it did find. If your file has a title above the column names, delete those rows so the column names are the first row.
    • "Maximum 50 rows per file. Split the file, or use Request a higher limit below.": your account is on the 50-row limit. Split the file into smaller ones, or request a higher limit.
    • "Files are limited to 5000 rows. Please split your file.": no file can be larger than this. Split it into smaller files.
    • A row failed with "Missing first name" or "Missing last name": every row needs both names.
    • A row failed with "This event requires" and a question: that row left one of the event's required questions empty.
    • A row failed with "Unknown attendee type": the type name on that row does not match any of the event's types. Use the names shown in the upload window.
    • A row failed with "This email is already registered.": that person is already registered for this event.
    • You cannot see the Upload button: the event is not published yet, or your role is Staff.

    If none of that explains it, get in touch at support@adnab.co and we will look at it with you.

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