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Bulk CSV Import

Import multiple signs at once from a CSV spreadsheet.

2 min readUpdated February 26, 2026organiser

When you have dozens or hundreds of signs to add, creating them one by one is slow. The bulk CSV import lets you upload a spreadsheet and create all your signs in a single step.

Preparing your CSV

Your CSV file needs a header row. At minimum, include these columns:

| Column | Required | Notes | |--------|----------|-------| | sign_number | Yes | Must be unique within the event. | | sign_type | Yes | Must match an existing sign type name in your organisation. | | quantity | No | Defaults to 1 if omitted. | | instructions | No | Free text instructions for the contractor. |

You can also include columns that match your custom field labels. The importer maps them automatically.

Not sure about the exact column names? Download the CSV template from the import dialog — it includes every standard and custom field for the sign types in your organisation.

Importing

  1. Open your event and go to the Signs tab.
  2. Click Import CSV.
  3. Select your CSV file or drag it into the upload area.
  4. On the Column Mapping screen, Signplanr shows each CSV column and its best-guess match to a sign field. Adjust any mappings that look wrong.
  5. Click Validate. The importer checks every row for errors — missing required fields, duplicate sign numbers, unknown sign types, and invalid field values.
  6. If errors are found, they appear inline with the row number and column. Fix your CSV and re-upload, or correct values directly in the preview table.
  7. When validation passes, review the preview and click Import.

All signs are created with a pending status. You can then upload artwork and place them on maps.

Handling errors

Common issues the validator catches:

  • Duplicate sign numbers — two rows have the same sign_number, or a number already exists in the event.
  • Unknown sign type — the sign_type value does not match any type in your organisation's library.
  • Missing required field — a required custom field is blank.
  • Invalid value — a number field contains text, or a dropdown field has a value that is not one of its options.

Fix the flagged rows and re-validate before importing.

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