Twenty supports three file formats for import:
| Format | Extension | Notes |
|---|
| CSV | .csv | Recommended, most compatible |
| Excel | .xlsx | Modern Excel format |
| Excel (Legacy) | .xls | Older Excel format |
File Requirements
| Requirement | Value |
|---|
| Encoding | UTF-8 recommended |
| Record limit | 10,000 records per file |
| Structure | First row must contain column headers |
| Content | One object type per file |
CSV Best Practices
- Delimiter: Use comma (
,) or semicolon (;)
- Text qualifier: Use double quotes (
") for text containing commas
- Line endings: Windows (CRLF) or Unix (LF) both supported
- Empty values: Leave cells empty, don’t use “NULL” or “N/A”
Excel Best Practices
When exporting from Excel:
- Remove formulas (export values only)
- Delete empty rows at the end
- Ensure no merged cells
- Use the first sheet only
Large Datasets
For datasets larger than 10,000 records:
- Split into multiple files
- Or use the API import for unlimited records
For very large migrations (100,000+ records), the API is significantly faster and more reliable than CSV imports.
