---
title: "Import from a file"
canonical: "https://support.appfire.com/space/DLP/2211875190/Import%20from%20a%20file"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (aura-html)
You can easily import your task templates from tools like MS Project, MS Excel, CSV, or OpenDocument files. The option is available in the Gantt and Scope modules.
> ℹ️ To unlock import features, install **BigTemplate** from the [Atlassian Marketplace.](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1215229/bigtemplate-export-to-pdf-word-excel?hosting=cloud&tab=overview)
Box admins and Jira admins can import tasks from a file. When the [Permissions for everyone](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=dlpdraft&title=NEW%20App-level%20permissions&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=2024283726) option is enabled, every logged-in user can import tasks from a file.
To import tasks from a file:
1. Expand the** Add task +** drop-down menu.
2. Select **Import tasks from file**.
## Upload a file
The maximum file upload size is 300 MB. The following file types are supported:
- .mpp
- .mpx
- .xls
- .xlsx
- .ods
- .csv
## Import data from MS Project
Once you import a file from MS Project, all columns with data will be automatically detected.
> ℹ️ Check a list of supported fields in the *Supported fields* section below.
To import tasks:
1. Expand the** Add task +** drop-down menu.
2. Select **Import tasks from file**.
3. Upload a file.
4. Select how the tasks should be converted:
1. Jira work items (parents will be converted to default issue types)
2. Jira work items (parents will be converted to epics)
3. BigPicture basic tasks
5. Select the Jira space where the tasks will be created. For more info, see the *Select Jira space *section below.
6. Add Jira labels to identify imported tasks.
7. Enable **Add labels as an additional filter for the box scope** if you want the entered labels to be added as filters on the [https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DLP/pages/2211646406](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DLP/pages/2211646406) page.
8. Decide whether the[ ASAP mode](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DLP/pages/2211583494) for dependencies should be on or off.
9. When ready, click **Import**.
To see a real example, watch the video below.
## Import data from MS Excel / OpenOffice
When importing MS Excel or OpenOffice files, you need to define the columns corresponding to the imported data. To simplify this step, BigPicture tries to recognize the column names and completes the fields accordingly.
> ℹ️ Check a list of supported fields in the *Supported fields* section below.
To import tasks:
1. Expand the** Add task +** drop-down menu.
2. Select **Import tasks from file**.
3. Upload a file.
4. Select how the tasks should be converted:
1. Jira work items (parents will be converted to default issue types)
2. Jira work items (parents will be converted to epics)
3. BigPicture basic tasks
5. Select the Jira space where the tasks will be created. For more info, see the *Select Jira space *section below.
6. Add Jira labels to identify imported tasks.
7. Enable **Add labels as an additional filter for the box scope** if you want the entered labels to be added as filters on the [https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DLP/pages/2211646406](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DLP/pages/2211646406) page.
8. Match the columns from the selected file to the corresponding task fields. You can set the relationships between tasks (**Parent row** and **Link **columns).
9. When ready, click **Import**.
## Import tasks without dates
The import mechanism supports tasks with a single date or undated tasks in the file. These tasks will be imported with one date or without dates.
## Supported fields
The table below presents the supported fields for particular files.
| **Supported field** | **Files - .xls, .xlsx, .csv, .ods (column name)** | **Files - .mpp, .mpx (column name)** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Summary | ("Summary") | ("Task Name") |
| Start Date | ("Start Date") | ("Start") |
| End Date | ("End Date") | ("Finish") |
| Issue type | ("Issue Type") | - |
| Assignee | ("Assignee") | ("Resource Name") |
| Original Estimate | ("Original Estimate") | ("Work") |
| Milestone | - | ("Milestone") |
| Baseline Start Date | - | ("Baseline Start") |
| Baseline End Date | - | ("Baseline Finish") |
| Progress | - | ("% Complete") |
## Select Jira space
To carry out the import successfully, you need to define a Jira space where the imported issues should be created. Tasks are visualized in BigPicture and must exist somewhere in Jira itself.
You can:
- Use one of your current spaces. New issues will be added to the existing ones.
- You can also set up a new, empty Jira space in advance. It is possible to create a new Jira space using the **Create with shared configuration** option. This will result in copying the Jira space setup (permission, notification, issue security, workflow, work item types, issue type screen, and field configuration). For more information, refer to the screenshots below.
Expand to see the steps
1. Go to **Jira** > **Spaces**.
2. Click **Create space**.
3. Click **Create with shared configuration**.
4. Choose a space.
5. Provide the name and key.
6. Click **Submit**.
## XLSX data format
If the .xlsx file has been created by exporting BigPicture data, it can be easily imported.
Otherwise, ensure that data is formatted in the following way:
**Start date, End date** - can be read in the following formats:
- yyyy-MM-dd (e.g. 2021-12-31)
- dd-MM-yyyy (e.g. 31-12-2021)
- MMM/dd/yyyy (e.g. Dec/31/2021).
**Parent Row** - the Excel row in which the parent of the task is
**Link **- a cell with dependencies/links, for example, 16FS-1 or 21SS+1, where:
16, 21 - pointer to Excel's row with the linked task;
FS, SS - link type:
- FS - finish to start;
- SS - start to start;
- FF - finish to finish;
- SF - start to finish.
- -1/+1 - link lag in days.
In this case:
- The target of a link is in row 33
- Start to finish link
- 0 lag days
## Possible problems and solutions
### The Import from file option is greyed out.
The scope type dictates whether the option is available. If a box was created using a box type with the **own scope**, the option is available.
For boxes with **sub** and **none** scopes, the **Import from file** option** **is** unavailable.**
### Required fields
Make sure that all fields have been set to **optional** in the Jira field configuration before importing a file.
The process of making this adjustment is demonstrated below.
Expand to see the steps
To copy the existing configuration:
1. Go to **Jira **> **Issues **> **View Field Configuration Schemes**.
2. Click **Copy**.
3. Provide a name and description.
4. Click on the field configuration name and change all items to **optional** within it.
5. Return to **Jira **> **Issues **> **View Field Configuration Schemes**.
6. Click the **Add field configuration scheme**.
7. Provide a name and description.
8. Make sure that the correct **Field Configuration** is associated with the scheme. To make changes, click the **Edit** button.
9. Go to the Jira space that is added to the box scope (the space Jira issues will be copied to).
10. Under the **Fields** tab, click **System Default Field Configuration**.
11. Expand the **Actions** drop-down menu and select **Use a different scheme**.
12. Select the Scheme from the drop-down menu and click Associate to confirm.
### Mapping task assignee
By importing from .mpp files, the system maps information about task assignees, so imported values are correct. To make sure the **Assignee **value is imported correctly, double-check if the value in the **Resource name** field in the .mpp file is the same as the value in the user's **full name** field in Jira (the case of characters will be ignored).
If there is no user match, the **Assignee** field will be set to **Unassigned**.
### Circular link dependencies
Once the file is imported, the app will not create strong dependencies if the circular dependency is identified (circular dependencies also include parent dependencies).
### Link ID
- Link with missing ID
- Missing Parent Task ID
### Period check failure
The start date is later than the end date.