Import datasets from a spreadsheet

To create or change many datasets at once, use an Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx). Each sheet is an automation, and each row is a dataset. Both buttons are in Automations > Automations: Spreadsheet template and Import spreadsheet.

Generate the template

Spreadsheet template generates the spreadsheet already in the right format:

1. Check the automations (up to 30).
2. For each one, choose the Template dataset: the new datasets start as a copy of it, with the same components, in the same order.
3. Click Generate spreadsheet.

The generated spreadsheet includes:

• the Instructions sheet, with the rules and the list of automations;
• one sheet per automation, with the Description column and one column for each fixed-value or list parameter of the template dataset. When the same parameter appears in more than one component, the title becomes Component > parameter;
• a note on each title, with the component, the value in the template and the rules for the field.

Spreadsheet rules

• The Description is required and identifies the dataset: if a dataset with the same description already exists in the automation, its values are updated; otherwise, a new dataset is created.
• An empty cell changes nothing.
• In an encrypted parameter, *** keeps the current value.
• Simple list: values separated by |. List with several columns: items separated by ; and columns by |. Put \ before the separator to use it inside a value.
• Up to 500 rows per sheet.
• Do not rename the sheets or the titles, and do not delete the hidden sheet: that is how Proton knows the automation and the template dataset of each sheet.

Import

Import spreadsheet opens a wizard. Nothing is saved before the last step, and each sheet is saved all at once.

1. Spreadsheet. Upload the .xlsx file (up to 10 MB) and check the sheets to include.
2. Target. For each sheet, the target automation: an Existing automation or a New automation, created with the settings of a model automation. Also choose the Template dataset. If the sheet came from the Proton template, the target is already chosen.
3. Columns. The column with the dataset description and the parameter of each column. Proton suggests them based on the title name. For each column, the value type: Fixed value, List or a value chosen in the wizard for all datasets in the sheet (general parameter, dataset variable or component output).
4. Review. What will happen to each row: Create, Update, Unchanged or Error, with the before and after of each value. Rows with errors can be left out: check the option to import the others.
5. Done. The summary per sheet: how many datasets were created, updated, unchanged and left out.

The column choices made for one sheet carry over to the following sheets that have the same titles.

Common errors

Message	What to do
The row has no dataset description.	Fill in the Description column.
The same description appears in more than one row of the spreadsheet.	Each row needs a different description.
There are N datasets with this description in this automation.	Give the automation's datasets different descriptions before importing.
The sheet has N rows; the limit per import is 500.	Split the sheet into more than one import.

Permissions

Generating the template requires viewing datasets; importing requires creating datasets. To create a new automation during the import, the profile must be able to create automations.