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CSV Import

You can import assignments from a spreadsheet using CSV files. This is useful for adding assignments from sources other than Canvas.

When to Use CSV Import#

CSV import is helpful when:

  • Adding assignments from non-Canvas classes
  • Importing a large number of manual assignments
  • Migrating from another planning tool
  • Setting up assignments in bulk

Preparing Your CSV File#

Required Columns#

Your CSV must include:

  • title - Assignment name

Optional Columns#

You can also include:

  • course - Course name
  • due_date - Due date (YYYY-MM-DD format)
  • due_time - Due time (HH:MM format, 24-hour)
  • points_possible - Total points
  • description - Assignment details
  • type - homework, test, quiz, project, paper, reading

Example CSV#

title,course,due_date,due_time,points_possible,type
Chapter 5 Reading,History,2026-01-15,23:59,10,reading
Math Homework 12,Algebra,2026-01-16,08:00,20,homework
Science Lab Report,Biology,2026-01-20,15:00,50,project

How to Import#

Step 1: Open Import Dialog#

  1. Go to the Assignments page
  2. Click the "Import" button
  3. The import dialog opens

Step 2: Upload File#

  1. Click "Choose File" or drag and drop
  2. Select your CSV file
  3. Click "Upload"

Step 3: Map Columns#

  1. Review the detected columns
  2. Match your column names to Academica fields
  3. Fix any mapping issues

Step 4: Preview#

  1. Review the assignments to be imported
  2. Check for errors or warnings
  3. Make corrections if needed

Step 5: Import#

  1. Click "Import"
  2. Wait for processing
  3. See confirmation of imported assignments

Column Mapping#

If your columns have different names:

Your ColumnMap To
"Assignment Name"title
"Class"course
"Deadline"due_date
"Worth"points_possible

The import tool will try to auto-detect, but you can manually adjust.

Date Formats#

Supported date formats:

  • YYYY-MM-DD (recommended) - 2026-01-15
  • MM/DD/YYYY - 01/15/2026
  • DD/MM/YYYY - 15/01/2026
  • Month DD, YYYY - January 15, 2026

Time formats:

  • HH:MM (24-hour) - 23:59
  • HH:MM AM/PM - 11:59 PM

Handling Duplicates#

If an assignment already exists:

Options#

  • Skip - Don't import duplicates
  • Update - Overwrite existing data
  • Create New - Import as new assignment

How Duplicates Are Detected#

Assignments are considered duplicates if they match:

  • Same title AND
  • Same course AND
  • Same due date

Import Limits#

  • Maximum file size: 5 MB
  • Maximum rows: 500 assignments per import
  • Supported format: CSV only

Tip: For larger imports, split into multiple files.

After Import#

Imported assignments:

  • Show a "CSV" source badge
  • Can be edited like any other assignment
  • Won't be overwritten by Canvas sync
  • Appear in your Assignments table immediately

Troubleshooting Import#

File won't upload#

  • Check file is CSV format
  • Ensure file is under 5 MB
  • Try saving as CSV from Excel again

Columns not recognized#

  • Check column header spelling
  • Remove special characters from headers
  • Use simple column names

Dates not parsing#

  • Use YYYY-MM-DD format
  • Check for extra spaces
  • Ensure consistent format throughout

Import fails#

  • Check for required "title" column
  • Remove empty rows
  • Fix any error messages shown

Exporting to CSV#

You can also export your assignments:

  1. Go to Assignments page
  2. Select assignments (or select all)
  3. Click "Export"
  4. CSV file downloads

This creates a backup or lets you edit in Excel.

CSV Template#

Download a template to get started:

  1. Export your current assignments (even if empty)
  2. Use the downloaded file as a template
  3. Add your new assignments
  4. Import the updated file

Tips#

  1. Start small - Test with a few assignments first
  2. Use the template - Ensures correct format
  3. Check the preview - Catch errors before importing
  4. Keep a backup - Save your CSV file

Next Steps#

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