Running the import
Duplicate handling, the preview, the read only lock while it runs, and the result screen at the end.
6 min readUpdated
The last four steps determine how duplicates are handled, show what the import will do, run the import, and report the results.
Duplicates#
The Duplicates step determines what happens when a row in the file appears to match an item already on the board. There are three policies:
| Policy | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Add everything as new | Every row becomes a new item, including duplicates. |
| Skip duplicates | A row that matches an existing item is left out. |
| Update the existing item | A matching row updates the existing item instead of creating another one. |
Skip and Update both require a Match column: Item ID or a board column whose values can reliably identify a row.
Preview#
Preview shows the run totals as "N will update · N new · N skipped · N ambiguous". It also lists everything the import will create under "Will be created", including groups, columns, and status or dropdown labels.
Starting It#
Choose "Import now" to start the run. A dialog headed "Start this import?" appears first when more than 500 rows are selected, when Files are being imported, or when either Update policy is selected. It repeats the actual numbers and estimates how long the run will take based on the board's last completed import.
The Board Is Locked While It Runs#
Only one import can run on a board at a time. While an import is queued or running, the board becomes read only for everyone across all open tabs. A strip at the top of the board shows this state and the progress. It cannot be dismissed, and people who can edit the board get an Open link to access the import dialog.
The lock prevents changes that could affect the board during the import:
- Editing cells or creating, deleting, or reordering items.
- Group actions or folding a group away so it remains folded.
- Subitems or renaming and resizing columns.
- Edit board, Delete board, and the Import entry.
- Automations and Undo in the activity log.
Item cards can still be opened and read, but the comment box and file uploads inside them are disabled. If someone tries to make a change, they receive a toast saying the board is read only until the import finishes. The change is not queued or retried, so it must be made again afterwards.
Watching It Run#
The Importing screen shows a rolling percentage and a phase track: Items, Subitems, Updates, Time tracking, Files, then "Finishing up". It also shows an estimated time remaining, elapsed time, and how long ago the last update arrived.
Rows that fail appear in a "Recent failures" list with their row numbers while the import is running.
Closing, Pausing and Cancelling#
Closing the dialog is safe. The import continues running, and the board remains locked for everyone until it finishes. The person who started the import gets a small card in the bottom right corner showing the progress. Selecting it reopens the dialog, and it also has its own Hide button.
- Pause stops the run and releases the lock, allowing the board to be edited again.
- Cancel is permanent, and rows that have already been imported remain on the board.
When the run stops, every open tab receives a toast with a View action that opens the result. If anything failed, the toast also offers "Download CSV summary".
The Result#
The Result screen shows the number of items imported, the filename, and how long the run took. It also includes:
- A table showing Created, Updated, Skipped, and Failed for each record type, with a Total row.
- A line listing the groups, columns, and labels created by the import.
- "Unmatched people": people in the file who could not be matched to a member are assigned to a fallback user, and each substitution is listed so you can correct it.
- A rollback section for a job that has been rolled back.
- A Rows log that can be filtered and displays fifty rows per page.
The footer includes "Download CSV summary", the retry action, Rollback, "Import another file", and Done.