About CSV Format

 About CSV Format

A CSV file is a file with comma separated values. You can create or edit a file like this with any text editor or spreadsheet program, such as Excel.

You can download this sample spreadsheet  as a starting point. Remember that Office 365 requires column headings in the first row so do not replace them with something else.

 Creating a CSV Document

To create a CSV document, follow these steps:

1. Save the file with a new name and specify the CSV format.

   

   When you save the file, you will probably get a prompt that some features in your workbook will be lost if you save the file in CSV format. This is okay.

2. Click Yes to continue.

   

 Tips for formatting your spreadsheet

Do I need the same column headings as in the sample spreadsheet?

The sample spreadsheet contains column headings in the first row. These headings are required. For each user you want to add to Office 365, create a row under the heading. If you add, change, or delete any of the column headings, Office 365 might not be able to create users from the information in the file.

What if I don’t have all the information required for each user?

The username and display name are required, and you cannot add a new user without this information. If you do not have some of the other information, such as the fax, you can use a space plus a comma to indicate that the field should remain blank.

How small or large can the spreadsheet be?

The spreadsheet must have at least two rows. One is for the column headings (the user data column label) and one for the user. You cannot have more than 251 rows. If you need to import more than 250 users, you can create more than one spreadsheet.

What languages can I use?

When you create your spreadsheet, you can enter user data column labels in any language or characters, but you must not change the order of the labels, as shown in the sample. You can then make entries into the fields, using any language or characters, and save your file in a Unicode or UTF-8 format.

What if I'm adding users from different countries or regions?

Create a separate spreadsheet for each area. You will need to step through the Bulk add users wizard with each spreadsheet, giving a single location of all users included in the file that you're working with.

Is there a limit to the number of characters I can use?

The following table shows the user data column labels and the maximum character length for each in the sample spreadsheet.