---
title: "Preparing a .CSV of Contacts To Be Uploaded Into Kenect"
canonical: "https://resourcecenter.kenect.com/space/Messaging/42042533/Preparing%20a%20.CSV%20of%20Contacts%20To%20Be%20Uploaded%20Into%20Kenect"
format: markdown
---
In this article, you will learn how to best prepare a .CSV file type to be used when uploading contacts into Kenect. This is for the manual adding of contacts into the Kenect system in a bulk manner for lists. Ensuring you have your data in a clean and correct format, this article will help you to ensure that file is uploaded successfully.

> ℹ️ ***Note:**** The two most important aspects of this list are: 1. ****IT MUST BE A .CSV FILE TYPE TO UPLOAD. 2.**** ***Accuracy***. Please follow the steps below and proof your list 2-3 times before upload.*

#### **Step-by-Step Guide**

For the purpose of this article, we will work off the assumption you have Microsoft Excel available to you.

1. Open your intended file in excel, if it is not already a .csv, that is fine, excel will offer you the ability to 'Save as .csv' later in the process.
2. Ensure that your column header titles match the image below:

![image-20240506-193842.png](media://33c48379-7f41-4603-a23d-2ca2088b83f7)

3. If you have imported your data into Excel from a third-party source, make sure that your column sets match the above image.
4. Once your information is sorted into the columns, use the 'Ctrl+F' function to find and replace any non-essential characters in each column.

> ℹ️ *Note: For First Name, only remove characters such as '&, @, #, *' as these will impact the readability of the data into Kenect. For Last Name same as First Name. For Mobile Phone remove the following "-, ( , )" also make sure to remove excess spaces from the Mobile Phone column. In addition, any number shorter than 10 characters should also be removed. As a final note, make sure to remove excess spaces from Columns 'First Name' and 'Last Name'*

5. Once you have cleaned the data in your columns, make sure you 'Save as Comma Delimited' .csv for the file type.
6. You are now ready to upload. Refer to the Article "

How to Add Contacts Via Upload" for specific instructions.

# **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)**

- **How many contacts can I upload at once?**
  - There is a limit of 10,000 contacts in a list for an upload directly into Kenect. If you are creating a group, the limit reduces down to 2,000. Make sure to ask your admin about how you want the contacts put in.
- **What if I don't have access to Microsoft Excel?**
  - If you don't have access to Microsoft Excel, you should still be able to manually edit your .csv after export from your system. If you need additional support contact your Kenect Customer Success Manager.
- **What if my customer first and last names are in the same column?**
  - Excel has many formulas for separating data. In the case of having first, and last names in the same column, if they are already separated by either spaces or columns in excel under the option 'Data' there is the 'Text to Columns'. Select the column you need to separate data and then select 'Text to Columns' upon selection you will be given the following options:
  - Select Delimited as shown above. Once that is selected, Select 'Next>'
  - You are then given a selection of options as to how you would like to separate the data, the default any Kenect staff members uses under 'Delimiters' is the 'Space' option, after selected, select 'Next'
  - Under Column data format select 'General' and then Finish. Your data has now separated into separate columns.
  - *Note: Be cautious on use of this specific Excel feature as it will override other columns of data, be sure to give yourself sufficient room when using 'Text to columns' in your given excel* sheet.
- **What if my data is very dirty? I have too much information.**
  - The only NEEDED information for a contact upload is 'First Name, Last Name, Mobile Phone'. There are TWO additional optional columns you can also import if you have them in the right column. Those columns are Email and Company. They would look as follows:
  - *Note: Make sure to still follow the notes from step 5 in cleaning your column data, with the exception of the "@" symbol in the email column as that is expected.*
- **What if I need to merge data? It's spread too thin across my excel sheet**
  - A commonly used Excel formula is the =CONCAT. The =CONCAT formula allows you to easily merge multiple columns into a single data column set For example, if you have a lengthy company name you want to merge into a single column and the three columns holding the data are A2, B2 and C2 your formula would read: =CONCAT(A2," ",B2," ",C2) on entering you would see all three columns data merge into one, if you double click on the cell holding the formula, it will populate the formula into the remainder of the column. This column can then be copied into a new column, with the paste 'only text' to remove the formula so you can then move it into the correct location in the document.