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CSV import is the most flexible way to bring data into Slant. This guide walks through the complete process of importing from a CSV file.

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Prepare your CSV file

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File format requirements

RequirementDetails
FormatCSV (comma-separated values)
EncodingUTF-8 (recommended)
DelimiterComma (,)
HeadersRequired in first row
Max size10 MB
Max rows10,000

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Creating a CSV

From Excel:
  1. File → Save As
  2. Choose “CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)”
  3. Save
From Google Sheets:
  1. File → Download
  2. Select “Comma Separated Values (.csv)”
From other software: Look for “Export” or “Download” options and select CSV format.

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Sample CSV structure

first_name,last_name,email,phone,household_name,tier
John,Smith,[email protected],555-123-4567,Smith Family,A
Jane,Smith,[email protected],555-123-4568,Smith Family,A
Bob,Johnson,[email protected],555-234-5678,Johnson Household,B

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Start the import

1

Navigate to import

Go to Settings → Import data.
2

Select import type

Choose what you’re importing:
  • Clients
  • Prospects
  • Contacts
  • Tasks
3

Upload your file

Click Upload file and select your CSV.

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Map your columns

After uploading, you’ll see your CSV columns:
1

Review detected columns

Slant lists all columns from your file.
2

Map each column

For each column, select the matching Slant field from the dropdown.
3

Handle unmapped columns

For columns you don’t need:
  • Select “Skip this column”
  • Or map to custom fields

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Common field mappings

CSV columnMap to
First NamePerson → First name
Last NamePerson → Last name
EmailPerson → Email
PhonePerson → Phone
AddressPerson → Address line 1
CityPerson → City
StatePerson → State
ZipPerson → Postal code
Household/AccountHousehold → Name
Tier/CategoryHousehold → Tier
See Field mapping for complete mapping guidance.

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Preview your import

1

Review preview

Slant shows how records will be created.
2

Check for warnings

Yellow warnings indicate potential issues.
3

Check for errors

Red errors must be fixed before importing.

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Preview shows

  • Number of records to be created
  • Sample of how data will look
  • Validation errors and warnings
  • Duplicate detection results

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Common warnings

WarningMeaningAction
Duplicate detectedSimilar record existsReview if intentional
Invalid formatData doesn’t match expected formatCheck and correct
Missing valueRequired field is emptyProvide value or skip row

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Execute the import

1

Resolve any errors

Fix red errors before proceeding.
2

Click Import

Click the Import button.
3

Wait for completion

Progress bar shows import status.
4

Review results

See summary of created records.

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Import results

The results screen shows:
  • Total records processed
  • Successfully created
  • Skipped (with reasons)
  • Errors encountered

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Importing specific record types

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Importing clients

Required information:
  • Household name (creates the client record)
  • At least one person
Optional but recommended:
  • Person email and phone
  • Address
  • Tier
  • Assigned advisor

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Importing people

People must link to households:
  1. Import households first, or
  2. Include household name in people import
If household doesn’t exist, it’s created automatically.

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Importing contacts

Contacts are standalone:
  • Name or company name required
  • People can be added after import
  • Contact type is optional

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Importing tasks

Tasks need context:
  • Title required
  • Optionally link to client/contact
  • Due date, assignee, labels are optional

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Handling relationships

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People and households

For people to appear in the correct household: Option 1: Include household name 
first_name,last_name,household_name
John,Smith,Smith Family
Jane,Smith,Smith Family
Option 2: Import separately
  1. Import households first
  2. Import people with matching household names

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Matching existing records

When importing, Slant checks for existing records:
  • Exact match found: Links to existing record
  • Similar match found: Warns you to review
  • No match: Creates new record

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Import settings

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Duplicate handling

Choose how to handle potential duplicates:
OptionBehavior
Skip duplicatesDon’t import if match found
Import anywayCreate record even if similar exists
Update existingMerge data into existing record

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Empty values

Choose how to handle empty cells:
OptionBehavior
Skip emptyLeave existing value unchanged
Clear existingReplace with empty value

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Troubleshooting

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File won’t upload

Check:
  • File is saved as CSV format
  • File size under 10 MB
  • File isn’t open in another program
  • Try different browser

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Columns not detected

Try:
  • Ensure first row contains headers
  • Check for hidden characters
  • Re-save file with UTF-8 encoding
  • Open in text editor to verify format

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Data in wrong fields

Fix:
  • Review column mapping
  • Check for misaligned data in CSV
  • Ensure consistent column order

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Import fails partway

If import stops:
  • Note which row failed
  • Check that row in your CSV
  • Fix the issue
  • Re-import remaining rows

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Wrong data imported

To fix:
  • Use bulk delete if many records wrong
  • Edit individual records if few errors
  • Delete and re-import if necessary

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Best practices

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Clean data first

Before importing:
  • Remove completely empty rows
  • Fix obvious typos
  • Standardize formatting
  • Handle special characters

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Test with small batch

  1. Create test file with 5-10 rows
  2. Import the test
  3. Verify results
  4. Delete test records
  5. Import full file

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Keep original files

Save your source CSV files:
  • Reference for questions later
  • Re-import if needed
  • Audit trail

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Document your process

Record:
  • Where data came from
  • How columns were mapped
  • Any data cleaning done
  • Date of import

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Next steps

Field mapping

Detailed mapping guide

Import overview

Import concepts