The easiest and most flexible way to get a lot of tasks and data into your Rindle account is by using CSV import.

You can import CSV files two different ways:

In order to successfully import using CSV, your file must match the Rindle CSV formatting. The best place to start is:

Pro-tip: Be sure to always keep the file in .CSV format.

Whether you export from an existing board or you use our template, you will see column headings specific to Rindle that must be used to successfully import. 

If you have a CSV export from another tool, it will have to be converted into our template format before importing into Rindle.

Here are the column names with formatting details: 

Note: All columns are not required for the import to be successful.

There are three types of entries you can make in the CSV file:

Note: When using the above types, they must be lowercase.

When starting with a blank template, start by entering the lists that you want on your board. Each list will be a row in the CSV file. Use the ID column to provide a unique number to identify it. This number can be anything you want. So your lists might look like this:

Notice that the ID numbers are unique and the type is set to list. Use the Data column to specify the list name.

Note: If you export from an existing board, you will already see the list entries at the top of the CSV file with existing IDs.

The columns you will use for list will be:

Next add your tasks. Each task will be a row in the CSV file. Top level tasks should have a list ID set as the Parent ID of the task. This maps the task to the appropriate list when it's imported. It will look something like this:

In the above example "Create help doc outline for CSV import" will go in the "In Progress" list and the rest in "Backlog". Notice that the type is set to task. Use the Data column to specify the task name.

To create a sub task, you will assign an ID to the parent task, then use that ID as the Parent ID for the sub task. It will look like this:

In the above example "Include example spreadsheets" and "Link to the CSV template" are sub tasks of "Create help doc outline for CSV import." Notice that the type is still set to task, but because it has a parent ID of another task, it will import as a sub task. Use the Data column to specify the task name.

The columns you will use for tasks are: 

If you would like to add comments to tasks, it follows a similar format. Comments should have a task ID set as a its Parent ID. This maps the comment to the appropriate task when it's imported. It will look like this:

In the above example "Did you verify is published?" will be a comment in "Publish CSV import article." Notice that the type is set to comment. Use the Data column to specify the comment text. 

If you want to set the author of the comment, put their email address in the Creator field. In this case brian@rindle.com will be the author of the comment. (they must be a user in your Rindle account).

The columns you will use for comments are:

Once your file is ready, you can use the CSV file to import a brand new board or import into an existing board.

Pro-tip: Any email address in the Task Assignees field will be automatically added to the board as members when importing and creating a new board (they must have a user account in your Rindle). 

Your imported board will look like this:

Pro-tip: If you experience any errors, go back and double check that your columns are named correctly and the file has a .csv file extension. 

Pro-tip: When importing into an existing board, the user must be on the board for assignees to import correctly.

If you have exported an exiting board and your adding new tasks, you will notice that the existing tasks from the board have IDs pre-fixed with rindle_. These should not be changed or removed and should be used when creating sub tasks or comments related to those tasks in the CSV file. 

Pro-tip: you can also bulk change existing tasks name in the CSV file and they will update upon import.