Content:
1. How to create a Card in the Cards Workflow via import?
2. How to create an Initiative in the Initiatives Workflow via import?
3. How to create an Initiative in the Timeline Workflow via import?
4. How to create Cards on multiple boards at once?
1. How to create a Card in the Cards Workflow via import?
When creating cards from a spreadsheet, make sure that all data columns are spelled the same ways in Kanbanize and in your spreadsheet, as well as all data matches the type of data required by the fields in Kanbanize. You can learn more about the formatting of your data for a successful import here.
When creating new cards, you do not need Card IDs, unless you have a Custom Card Id in place on the board.
You do not need a “Workflow name” column in your spreadsheet file if you are importing cards to the Default “Cards Workflow”, but if you have created more than one Cards workflows on the board, you would need to specify it, or otherwise all the cards will be imported to the first one by default.
Important:
1) The "Title" column header is mandatory.
2) Custom fields can be updated only if they have been assigned to the board prior to the import.
The column headers in your spreadsheet need to match the exact name of the Custom field you wish to import.
2. How to create an Initiative in the Initiatives Workflow via import?
You can format your spreadsheet file and create a column with a header "Workflow name" in order to specify that the card belongs in the Initiatives Workflow (the default name). If you additionally specify the "Column name" in another dedicated column header, your initiatives will be created there. Otherwise, they become available in your workflow's backlog section when imported.
The above assumes you are creating blank initiatives (i.e. with no linked child cards) - if you would like to link cards/initiatives together via import, kindly refer to this article.
3. How to create an Initiative in the Timeline Workflow via import?
The system allows Timeline initiatives to also be imported using a spreadsheet file. When formatting the file, you need to add some additional column headers (which are related to the Timeline initiatives only) that correspond to the Timeline initiatives' properties and position, such as:
Time-related properties:
‘Planned Start’
‘Planned End’
‘Start date’
‘End Date’
Location-related properties:
‘Board name’
‘Workflow name’ (you need to specify the Timeline workflow name)
‘Column name’* (you need to specify the past, present or future status)
'Lane name'
‘Track’ (optional**)
Notes:
1) The "Column name"* values specify if the Timeline Initiative is in the Past (“Done”); currently “In Progress” or not started yet “Requested”. If a ‘Column name’ value is missing, the Timeline Initiative gets created in the “Backlog”.
- To create a Timeline initiative "In progress", you need to specify the Actual start date and Planned end date. The reason for this is that the Initiative need to have an actual start date in order to be considered "in progress".
- To create a Timeline initiative in "Requested", you need to specify the Planned start and Planned End fields.
The allowed date formats are as follows: MM/DD/YYYY, DD-MM-YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD
2) The "Track"** number specifies the Timeline track where your new Initiative is to be created.
- If the track number is not specified, the new Initiative will be created in the next available track.
- Note that the system considers if there is a limit on the number of tracks. All concurrent initiatives which exceed the track limit will not be created and there will be an explanation for this via email.
- The counting of the timeline tracks starts from "0" i.e. if you have a timeline with three tracks, you need to insert "0" for the first track; "1" for the second one and "2" for the third one.
4. How to create Cards on multiple boards at once?
When formatting the spreadsheet file, you need to add a column header “Board ID” and input the ID values of the respective board(s). After the import, each card/initiative will be created in the corresponding board. If this column is not added or the Board ID values are not entered, the items will be created in the Board from which you perform the import.
Note: You can see your board ID as the final part of your URL in the browser address bar or when you hover on a Board name in the Dashboard.
Similarly, you can use the name of the board, instead of the Board ID to add cards and initiatives into multiple boards. All you need to do is to create a column with a header "Board Name" and enter the respective Board names. If this column is not added or the Board name is not entered, the items will be created in the Board from which you execute the import.
Note: If two boards in your Kanbanize account have the same name, you will get an error message during the import.