Importing data into your app

Already have data in a spreadsheet, an old app, or a CSV? You don't have to retype it. The AI can import it directly.

The simplest method

Open your app in the editor, drag your file into the chat (or click + next to the message box to attach it), or paste the data directly. Then describe what you want:

Import this spreadsheet as my customer list.

Take this CSV and create a record for each row in the Products data.

The AI:

1. Looks at the columns in your file
2. Maps them to the right fields in your app (or creates new fields if needed)
3. Imports every row
4. Tells you how many records were imported and flags any issues

There's no Import button in the Data tab. The Data tab lets you add records one at a time and export a table as CSV. Bringing a file in always goes through the chat.

The screen where you start a brand-new app only accepts images, so you can't attach a spreadsheet there. Create the app first, then attach the CSV in the editor chat.

Supported formats

• CSV (.csv) — the reliable one, and the only format the bulk import reads. Use it for anything more than a handful of rows.
• JSON or plain text — fine for a small amount of data the AI can read directly in the chat

Native Excel files are not supported and can't be read from the chat — the editor won't accept a .xlsx or .xls attachment at all. If your data lives in Excel, open it and use File → Save As → CSV first. Same for a Google Sheet: File → Download → Comma-separated values, then bring the CSV in.

Is it a live connection?

No — an import is a one-time copy. Once the rows are in your app, the original file isn't linked to them any more, so later edits to the spreadsheet won't show up. There is no live sync between a sheet and your app; see Connecting Google Sheets for what is and isn't possible.

Fixing problems

If the AI can't figure out which column goes where, it asks you:

I see columns: Name, Email, Phone, Last Order Date. I'm planning to map them to: Customer Name, Email, Phone, Last Order. Does that look right?

Answer in chat. You can also tell it to skip columns:

Skip the Phone column for now.

Clean the file first

A bulk import copies your rows as they are:

• Duplicates aren't merged. If the file has repeated rows, they're imported twice. Remove them in your spreadsheet first.
• Missing values stay empty. A row with a blank field is still imported, with that field left empty. Completely blank rows are skipped.
• Check the result. When it finishes, the chat tells you how many rows were imported. Open the Data tab afterwards to spot-check.

Large imports

Big files import in the background, and the chat shows progress as it goes. Expect it to take a while: tens of thousands of rows can take half an hour or more. One import stops at 100,000 rows. For a bigger file, split it and import it in parts.

What to read next

• Connecting Google Sheets — what's possible, and what isn't
• Exporting your data — always be able to get your data back out