Importing your C&I Catalog via CSV
Bulk import your existing item catalog — uniforms, gear, consumables — from any spreadsheet. No template required.
Quick Answer
The C&I item CSV import lets you bring your whole catalog over in one shot — even when it spans multiple categories. Enable CSV import in Settings → CSV Import first; the button only appears for admins and editors.
Before you start
Create your Categories and Item Types in Settings first. The import won't let you create new ones on the fly — every row must be assigned an existing Category and Item Type.
Six-step wizard
Setup
Upload your CSV. Tick the header-row checkbox if your first row contains column names. Optionally pick a default Category and Item Type — every row will inherit unless overridden.
Map columns
Map each CSV column to a field (Make, Model, Replacement Cost, Reorder Point, Lifespan Value, Notes, Size Options, etc.). Set Category and Item Type per row using the leftmost dropdowns. Use "Set all on this page" in the column header to batch-apply. Hide columns you don't need with — Remove (hide) —.
Validate
DREAM runs a dry-run pass. Errors (missing Category/Item Type, unparseable numbers, missing Lifespan Value) must be fixed before continuing. Warnings (probable duplicates, options on incompatible item types) require acknowledgement.
Confirm
Review the per-category breakdown and acknowledge that imports cannot be deleted, only archived.
Importing
DREAM processes the rows one at a time. Per-row failures are recorded but don't stop the batch.
Results
See how many items imported successfully and which rows failed (with the error per row).
Formatting tips for options columns
For fields like Size Options, Other 1 Options, and Other 2 Options, put all values in one cell separated by commas — e.g., XS, S, M, L. Most spreadsheet apps handle the formatting automatically when you save as CSV.
If you're writing the CSV by hand, you can use | (pipe) instead of commas to sidestep CSV quoting — e.g., XS|S|M|L.