Importing Tasks from a CSV File

    With CSV task import, you can quickly move tasks from spreadsheets, other project management tools, or any source that exports to CSV directly into your Slingshot task lists. Slingshot automatically detects your column types and maps them to task fields, so you spend less time on setup and more time getting work done.

    Note

    CSV import is available to workspace owners only. If you don't see the Import option, check with your workspace owner.

    How to Import Tasks

    Step 1: Start the Import

    There are two ways to begin a CSV import:

    • From a task list — Click/tap on the overflow menu of the task list and choose Import. This creates a new section called "Import" where your tasks will be added.
    • From a section — Click/tap on the overflow menu of a specific section and choose Import. Your tasks will be added directly to that section.
    Note

    If you import from the task list menu multiple times, each import creates a new section with an incremented name (e.g., "Import", "Import 2", "Import 3").

    Step 2: Upload Your File

    After selecting Import, a file picker opens. Choose your .csv file and Slingshot will parse it automatically.

    Your CSV file should follow these guidelines:

    • The first row must contain your column headers (field names).
    • Each subsequent row represents a task.
    • Files can have up to 50 columns and 2,000 rows.

    Step 3: Review the Mapping Grid

    Once your file is uploaded, Slingshot displays a mapping grid showing your CSV data organized by columns. Each column header shows:

    • The CSV column name from your file
    • An icon representing the detected field type
    • A dropdown you can click/tap to change the field mapping

    Slingshot automatically analyzes your data and maps each CSV column to the best matching task field. For example, a column named "Due Date" containing date values will be mapped to the Due Date field automatically.

    What Slingshot Detects Automatically

    Data Pattern Detected Field Type
    "true" / "false" values Checkbox
    Date values Date
    Numbers between 0 and 5 Rating
    Numbers between 0 and 100 Manual Progress
    Other numbers Numeric
    Long text (over 255 characters) Long Text
    Short text with repeated values Dropdown
    Everything else Text

    If a column doesn't match any existing field in your task list, Slingshot suggests creating a new custom field based on the data it finds. These suggested fields are only added to your task list when you confirm the import — nothing changes until you're ready.

    Important

    Slingshot Tip: If a column contains no data, Slingshot defaults it to Text, but you can manually change it to any supported field type using the column header dropdown.

    Adjusting Column Mappings

    You can change any column's mapping by clicking/tapping its header and selecting a different field from the dropdown. Your options include:

    • Existing task fields — such as Title, Status, Priority, Due Date, Assignee, and any custom fields already in your task list.
    • Suggested new fields — custom fields that Slingshot recommends based on your data.
    • Ignore — skip this column entirely during import. Ignored columns appear dimmed in the grid.

    Choosing a Task Type

    The mapping grid includes a task type selector at the top. If your workspace uses multiple task types, you can switch between them to change which fields are available for mapping.

    Important

    Changing the task type resets all your column mappings. Your CSV data is preserved — only the field assignments are cleared so you can remap them to the new task type's fields.

    Step 4: Resolve Any Mismatches

    If a column is mapped to a Dropdown or Label field and some of your CSV values don't match the existing options, a warning icon appears on that column header.

    Click/tap the warning icon to open the Value Mapping dialog, where you can:

    • Map unrecognized values to existing dropdown or label options
    • Add new options — create new items with custom colors directly from the dialog using the color picker

    Any new options you create here are only saved when you confirm the import. If you cancel, nothing changes in your existing fields.

    Step 5: Confirm and Import

    Once you're satisfied with your mappings, click/tap Apply Mapping to start the import.

    Note

    The Apply Mapping button is disabled until at least one column is mapped to the Title field. Every task needs a title, and the Title column must have a value in every row — columns with blank cells won't be available for Title.

    If there are any unresolved dropdown or label mismatches, Slingshot walks you through the value mapping dialogs one at a time before proceeding.

    Tracking Import Progress

    After you confirm the import, a progress dialog shows the status of your import in real time. You don't need to wait — close this dialog and continue working in Slingshot. A small floating progress indicator appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen so you can keep an eye on things.

    When the import finishes:

    • All tasks imported successfully — You'll see a summary with the total number of tasks created and a Take me there button to navigate directly to your task list.
    • Some tasks had errors — The summary shows how many tasks succeeded along with the details for any rows that couldn't be imported.
    Note

    Only one import can run at a time. If you try to start a new import while one is already in progress, Slingshot will let you know.

    Creating Subtasks During Import

    You can set up parent-child relationships between tasks by including a Parent Task Name column in your CSV.

    To create subtasks during import:

    1. Map one of your CSV columns to the Parent Task Name field type.
    2. In each row, enter the exact title of the parent task in this column.
    3. Make sure the parent task appears above the child task in your CSV file.
    4. Leave the Parent Task Name column empty for top-level tasks.
    Note

    Only one level of subtask nesting is supported — a subtask cannot itself be a parent of another subtask.

    Example CSV:

    Title Status Parent Task Name
    Design Homepage In Progress
    Create wireframes To Do Design Homepage
    Choose color palette To Do Design Homepage
    Build API To Do

    In this example, "Create wireframes" and "Choose color palette" become subtasks of "Design Homepage", while "Build API" remains a top-level task.

    Supported Fields

    The following task fields can be populated through CSV import:

    Field Notes
    Title Required. Every row must have a value. Exactly one column must be mapped to Title.
    Status Optional. If no column is mapped to Status, tasks default to To Do.
    Description Optional.
    Priority Optional.
    Due Date Optional.
    Start Date Optional.
    Assignee Optional. Supports multiple assignees separated by commas within a single cell. Names or emails are matched against workspace members.
    Labels Optional.
    Custom Fields Text, Number, Date, Checkbox, Rating, Dropdown, Long Text, Manual Progress, Email, Phone Number, and People fields are all supported. These apply only when you have created custom fields of those types on the task list.
    Parent Task Name Optional. Establishes parent-child relationships (see above).
    Note

    Some fields cannot be populated through CSV import, including Attachments, Time Tracking, Recurring, Created On, and Completed On.

    Tips for a Smooth Import

    • Prepare your CSV — Make sure your first row contains clear column headers. Slingshot uses these to auto-detect field mappings.
    • Keep titles filled in — The Title column cannot have any blank cells. Fill in any gaps before importing.
    • Use consistent dropdown values — If you're importing into an existing dropdown field, match the option names in your CSV to avoid extra mapping steps.
    • Check your date formats — Standard date formats are recognized automatically.
    • Use commas for multiple values — For Assignee and multi-value custom fields such as People and Email, you can include multiple values in a single cell by separating them with commas (e.g., "alice@example.com, bob@example.com").
    • Split date ranges — Date ranges aren't supported as a single field. Use separate Start Date and End Date columns instead.

    Importing from Other Tools

    Already have tasks in another project management tool? You can export them as CSV and bring them into Slingshot. Below are step-by-step guides for the most common tools.

    Importing from ClickUp

    ClickUp lets you export your tasks to CSV. To prepare your export for Slingshot:

    1. Export from ClickUp — In ClickUp, export your tasks to CSV. When prompted, select ISO format for dates to ensure they are recognized correctly during import.
    2. Prepare subtasks — ClickUp exports subtask relationships as a list of Subtask IDs on each parent task, which Slingshot doesn't read directly. To convert these into a format Slingshot understands:
      • Open the exported CSV in Excel or Google Sheets.
      • Add a new column called Parent Task Name.
      • In the first data row of the new column, enter the following formula (then copy it down for all rows): 
        =IFERROR(INDEX($C:$C, MATCH("*"&TRIM(CLEAN(B2))&"*", $F:$F, 0)), "")
        Adjust the column letters to match your file:
        • B = the Task ID column
        • C = the Task Name column
        • F = the Subtask IDs column
      • Save the file as CSV.
    3. Import into Slingshot — Follow the standard import steps above. When reviewing the mapping grid, make sure the Parent Task Name column is mapped to the Parent Task Name field type.

    Importing from Asana

    Asana exports include subtask relationships out of the box, making the process straightforward:

    1. Export from Asana — In Asana, export your project to CSV. Subtasks are automatically exported with a Parent task column that contains the name of each subtask's parent.
    2. Import into Slingshot — Follow the standard import steps above. When reviewing the mapping grid, map the Parent task column to the Parent Task Name field type. Slingshot will automatically create the parent-child relationships.