Managing data in Timely just got a whole lot easier! We’re excited to introduce Self-Service CSV Imports, a powerful new tool that helps workspace admins quickly add and update users, projects, and tags—without all the manual work.

If you’ve ever needed to onboard a large team, reorganize project structures, or clean up your workspace, you know how time-consuming it can be. With this new feature, you can upload your data in bulk using simple CSV files, making setup and ongoing management more efficient than ever.

We’ve built this feature from the ground up with flexibility in mind! You can map your data exactly where it needs to go, preview changes before they’re applied, and even catch errors before they cause any headaches. Plus, every import is logged, so you can track what’s been updated and make adjustments as needed.

This is all about giving you more control over your workspace—so you can spend less time on admin work and more time getting things done. Let’s dive in!

In this article we'll discuss:

You’ll find the new CSV Imports section conveniently located in your Timely Settings, with the other admin options. From here, you'll see your workspace's import history and status at a glance, as well as the "+ New Import" button to begin a new import.
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Using this process you can create new objects—such as projects, tags, or users—or modify existing data to better reflect changes in your workspace. Whether you’re building out your team structure, updating tag groupings, or populating client project lists, this feature is designed to streamline those tasks.
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Next up, we’ll cover how to navigate the CSV Import process step-by-step, including preparing your files, mapping data, and reviewing results. Let’s get started! 🚀

While you can technically use any CSV file for your import process, and map each column to an existing data field in Timely, we've put together a standard template with all the required fields. This will make the import process a lot easier and reduce the risk of any errors.
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• Projects Template

• Users Template

• Tags Template

Each template includes all the columns you’ll need. You'll want to ensure that you input your data into the rows of those templates exactly as laid out in the template instructions.
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​You can use any common spreadsheet app, like Google Sheets or Excel, or edit and manage these files.

Once your CSV is ready:
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1. Navigate to Settings > CSV Import in Timely.

2. Click the "+ New Import" button

2. Choose the type of data you’d like to import (Projects, Users, or Tags).

3. Upload your completed CSV file using the file selector.

After uploading, you'll be prompted to review the column matching and ensure everything aligns in the next steps.

During this step, Timely will help you match the columns in your CSV file to the fields in Timely. This ensures your data is imported accurately.

After mapping is complete, confirm your import:

• Double-Check Your Data: Mistakes can’t be undone! Be sure to review your CSV carefully before importing.

• Use Unique Identifiers: For updating existing data, make sure the data you've input into your import file matches exactly what is already within Timely. Be careful of trailing spaces "_" or other small character issues which may throw off an exact match.

• Start Small: For larger data sets, consider running a smaller test import first to catch any potential issues.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to efficiently import and manage your data within Timely. Ready to dive in? 💻

While you can use any CSV file of your choosing to kick off the import process, and map the columns to fields, we highly recommend utilizing one of our comprehensive import templates to ensure best results.

Download Project Import Template File
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Download Users Import Template File
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Download Tags Import Template File
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After an import has been completed you'll see it listed in the CSV Imports panel within your workspace settings. You can then click the See Mapping button for each import to look over how the columns and fields were aligned for this import, or click the Details button to see how many specific objects were successfully imported.

When you are done reviewing those items you can click the Done button to return to the previous screen.

If adjustments need to be made to these imported objects, it isn't possible to revert or roll back an import. You would need to manually adjust those items within Timely, or perform another CSV import to revise and update those objects as needed.

What happens if I upload duplicate data?

If the system detects an existing record with one changed attribute, it will update the record instead of creating a duplicate.

Can I undo an import?

Unfortunately, imports cannot be reversed. We recommend carefully reviewing your data during the validation step before proceeding.

What do I do if I encounter validation errors?

Errors will be highlighted, and problematic rows will appear at the top of the preview list. Correct these errors in your file and re-upload to proceed.

How many rows can I import at once?

There is no strict limit, but larger files may take longer to process. For optimal performance, we recommend splitting files into manageable sizes if working with very large datasets.

I don't see the CSV Imports section in Timely settings?

This feature is available to admin level users of Premium, Unlimited, Unlimited+ plans.

Can I import other types of data?

Currently, the supported import types are Users, Projects, and Tags. If you need to import additional data types, let us know via feedback!