Import CSV or Excel Files
In order to successfully import contacts into Highrise, your CSV or Excel file needs to be properly formatted, so that your data can be matched to Highrise fields.
If your data was exported from another software program, you may need to reformat it before it can be imported into Highrise.
Highrise has two types of contacts:
- People
- Companies
We recommend importing these types of contacts separately. This helps prevent errors during your import.
You can watch how to import a CSV or Excel file here, or follow the steps below.
Step 1: Download contact template files
We recommend downloading the company template files and import the company information first.
Highrise Sample CSV - Company Contacts
Highrise Sample Excel - Company Contacts
If you don't have any company contacts, you can skip ahead and download the people file templates.
Highrise Sample CSV - People Contacts
Highrise Sample Excel - People Contacts
After downloading the contact template files, edit the files, and enter in your own company and people information.
Step 2: Begin your import
Go to your Contacts page.
Click the Import link on the right side of the Contacts page.
If you don't see that option, click Add your first contact and click the Import Contacts link.
Next, click the Upload a CSV file or Upload an Excel file link.
Step 3: Matching data fields
Once you've selected the file to import into Highrise, you need to match the columns of data in your file to existing fields in Highrise.
This places the information in your file in the correct field in Highrise.
Important: The Account Owner and any admins do have the option to create custom fields in Highrise prior to importing contacts. If there is custom field data in your file that hasn't been created in Highrise yet, choose the option Create custom field with this label when mapping your fields.
The column header or label will be the name of created custom field.
Once imported, you can check your custom fields in Highrise and make any edits.
If Highrise detects that first row of your file is made up of column headers (e.g. First Name, Last Name, Email Address) instead of actual data, it will ignore that row. If you do not have column headers in your file, uncheck the box to import that data.
Highrise predicts the best field matches for your data. You can make changes by selecting another field from the pull down menus.
You can have multiple entries with the same field label. For example, a contact can have three work phone numbers. If your data includes columns of the same type, you can select the same field label multiple times.
For example, here is how the sample company file fields are matched:
If you're only importing people contacts, here is how the same people file fields are matched:
No match is found
If Highrise can’t find a match, the drop down will say NO MATCH, SELECT... . Choose the field that is most appropriate.
Or you can choose to ignore a field completely. Choose Do not import this field from the drop down.
Step 4: Review and finalize
Choose how you want to handle any duplicates found in your file:
Highrise recognizes duplicates in two ways:
- For companies: a matching company name
- For people: an identical email address
If Highrise finds a duplicate, it will be skipped at import unless you choose the second option to update your data into the existing Highrise contact. This helps prevent the same person or company from being created multiple times.
Step 5: Review imported contacts
After an import is complete, review the information and make sure it's correct. If your data doesn't look correct, you can undo your import and reorganize the data or fields.
If everything looks correct, leave it as is.
In this example, the company template file creates one company contact:
After importing the company file, the people template file creates two people contacts and associates them with the company in the company name field:
After the import, you will find the company information (address, phone number, etc.) listed on the person's contact page:
