Import tasks | Online help | Zoho Projects

Import from XLS/CSV/JSON/MPP

You can now import MPP/ MPX/ XLS/ JSON/ CSV files into Zoho Projects and start collaborating. Users can import 5000 tasks at a time.

  1. Login to  Zoho Projects  with  Administrator privileges.
  2. Click   in the upper-right corner of the top navigation band.
  3. Navigate to Data Administration > Imports.   
  4. Navigate to MPP and other file import and click  Start Import.
  5. Select the desired file to import and select a project.
  6. Click Import to import the file.

  1. If the imported file contains custom fields then map them with the layout task custom fields (if any) and click Continue.
  2. Select the date format from the Select Date Format field. The date format in the import file must match one of the formats available in the drop-down.
  3. Map the statuses in the file with corresponding statuses in the project.
    If there is no corresponding status, create a new status by clicking on the drop-down and then clicking + New Status. Select the status type (Open or Closed) and then click Add to create a new status.
    Click Apply Changes after mapping all the statuses.

  4. You can either leave the imported tasks unassigned or associate it with the existing project users based on your requirement.
    Click Continue if the tasks are to be left unassigned. Else, map the users and then click Associate Users. This will start the import.

  5. When you import the work hours of a user along with their respective task information, ensure to use the following keys while importing.
    Key to be used while importing XLS
    Mapped Criteria
    hrs/day
    Work hours per Day
    %/day
    Work %
    hrs
    Total Work Hours

  6. A warning message about applying default values to mismatched fields is displayed.
  • All the task list available in the imported file are listed in the Classic View.
  • If you map the TASK OWNER to the corresponding xls field, and continue to import, the Import XLS File wizard is displayed. In this wizard, you can choose to leave the tasks unassigned or associate the xls users to project users.
  • Zoho Projects supports multi-sheet files for task import. Headers from the first sheet will be used to map the fields in Zoho Projects. Single line text fields are limited to 255 characters and pick list values are limited to 100 characters. Entries exceeding the character limit will be truncated and imported. 
  • You can also import subtasks along with tasks in the form of XLS, CSV, or a JSON file.
  • To add tags during task import, add the tags within double quotes and separate them using comma in the import file.
    For example, "tag1", "tag2","tag3".

While importing, if you map only the TASK LIST ID, the corresponding task list alone is imported, even if there are identical task list names. However, if you map the TASK LIST NAME, all the available task list with the given task list name are imported irrespective of their task list ID.

Example:

TASKLIST ID
TASKLIST NAME
Mapped Field Name
Imported Tasklist
1234
Edit Template
Tasklist ID
Edit Template -1234
5678
Edit Template
Tasklist Name
Edit Template-1234 and Edit Template-5678

Import Tasks to an Existing Task List

To import tasks to an existing task list, users must enter the Task List ID (not the task list name) in the Task List Name column of the import file.

Set dependency in the import file

You can set task dependency in the import file. Add a column titled "Predecessor" in the file. The syntax for setting dependency is as follows:
<Task ID> < Dependency type > <+ or - to denote lag or lead> <duration in days or hours>

Task ID: It is the ID of the predecessor task.
Dependency type : FS denotes finish to start
                                  SS denotes start to start
                                  SF denotes start to finish
                                  FF denotes finish to finish
Lag or lead time : + denotes a lag. - denotes a lead.
Duration in days or hours : example, 2d denotes 2 days. 3h denotes 3 hours.

Dependency can be set in the following formats:
  1. PD1-T1 FS + 3d
    1. PD1-T1 is the task ID. FS is the finish-start dependency. + indicates lag. Lag is set as 3 days.
  2. PD1-T1 SS
    1. PD1-T1 is the task ID. SS is the start-start dependency. There is no lead or lag time here.
  3. PD1-T1 SF - 4h
    1. PD1-T1 is the task ID. SF is the start-finish dependency. - indicates the lead. Lead is set as 4 hours.
  4. PD1-T3 FS, PD1-T5 SS +1d
    1. Multiple predecessors can be set using a comma.
If you don't mention a dependency type, finish to start (FS) will be set by default.
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