Import Events

Govstack Events includes the ability to import large numbers of events using a .csv file.

To have access to import events, you will need to have the Calendar Administration or Administration role for the target calendar.

Import templates

To assist with importing events, Govstack Events creates a pre-formatted .csv file containing columns for all the required fields.

To download an import template:

1. In the Govstack dashboard in the back office, select the Events section. This will take you to the Govstack Events “Home” page
2. Select “Import Events” from the toolbar located near the top of the page
3. Set the “Calendar” drop down to the target calendar
4. Select the “Download Template (CSV)” button
5. Your browser will inform you of the file download. The default file name is Template.csv

Please note

The import templates are unique to each calendar because they match the specific fields for the calendar. Make sure you have the correct template before filling in the import information or the import may generate errors that stop the process.

Example Import Template

Creating the import file

To add your event information to the import file:

1. Rename the import template file downloaded in the above steps to reflect the content of your import. Use upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and dashes only. Do not alter the file extension (.csv)
2. Open the file in a spreadsheet application, like Excel or Sheets
3. Enter the data for each event, one event per row. For more information on the content and formatting of columns see the “Import File Formatting” section, below
4. Save the file in a .csv file format. Be careful that your application does not replace the file format. The Import Events tool will only accept .csv files

We have provided an example import file to assist you.

Import file formatting

Import templates can vary from calendar to calendar. However, there are several columns that are standard for almost all import files. To assist, we have provided a list of these standard columns and their required formatting.

Adding images and attachments

To import events that include feature images and attachments you will need to upload a .zip containing your files along with the import .csv file.

We strongly recommend zipping files rather than folders. If folders are zipped, the import file will need to include the file structure of the zip. This can add additional complications to the process.

To create a .zip file on windows:

1. Assemble all the files for import into a single folder
2. Select all the files to be zipped
3. Right click the selected files and select “Compress to ZIP File” (Windows 11) or “Send to” > “Compressed (zipped) folder” (Windows 10)
4. This will create a zip file in your current folder with the name of one of the zipped files (usually the first or last file in the selection). You can rename the file using upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and dashes only

To create a .zip file on mac:

1. Assemble all the files for import into a single folder
2. Select all the files to be zipped
3. Control-Click one of the files and select “Compress”
4. This will create a file called Archive.zip. You can rename the file using upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and dashes only

We have provided an example .zip file to assist you. This file corresponds to the example import file provided under the “Creating the Import File” section above.

Importing the events

Once you have created your import .csv file (and your optional .zip file), you can import your events:

1. In the Govstack dashboard in the back office, select the Events section. This will take you to the Govstack Events “Home” page
2. Select “Import Events” from the toolbar located near the top of the page
3. Set the “Calendar” drop down to the target calendar
4. Select the “Browse” button to the left of the “Upload Excel Document (CSV)” field and select your import file
5. If you have attachments, select the “Browse” button to the left of the “Upload Attachments (ZIP)” field and select your .zip file
6. Select the “Upload” button to begin the import process
7. The Column Mapper will open. If you used the correct upload template, you shouldn’t need to make any changes. If any of the columns are misplaced, you may select the correct column title for the data from the available drop-down options
8. Select the “Process” button to complete the import. A message will appear at the top of the page showing the number of events that were imported. If errors occur in the process, you will be provided with a list. Correct any errors or missing information and retry the import