CSV File Format for Importing Families and Enrollment Opportunities
This article will help you format your CSV file correctly before importing it into Enrollio. By following this guide, you'll avoid common import errors, save time, and ensure your family data flows seamlessly into your platform.
Key Benefits of Preparing Your CSV File
Taking the time to format your CSV file correctly before importing ensures your family data is clean, complete, and mapped accurately.
- Reduces the chance of import errors or upload failures
- Helps Enrollio automatically map fields during import
- Enables family deduplication and accurate updates
- Supports custom fields and advanced segmentation
- Saves time by avoiding post-import cleanup
- Increases success with bulk family and enrollment opportunity uploads
What is a CSV File Format?
CSV stands for 'Comma-Separated Values'. It's a simple file format used to store tabular data like spreadsheets or databases.
Each line in a CSV file represents a single record, and fields within the record are separated by commas. It's one of the most widely used formats for importing and exporting data between different systems.
CSV files typically have a .csv extension. You can create or edit them in tools like Excel, Google Sheets, or Notepad. Ensure only one sheet is present in the file to prevent import issues.
Example:
| First Name | Last Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane | Doe | jane@example.com | +11234567890 |
| John | Smith | john@example.com | +10987654321 |
Structuring Your File
To ensure accurate data mapping, structure your CSV file with column headers corresponding to standard or custom fields in Enrollio.
1. Sample CSV Format
[SCREENSHOT: Sample CSV file showing columns: First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Center Name, Tags, Status, Created Date, Additional Phone. Include two sample rows with data like parent names, email addresses, phone numbers, and tags like 'Tour Scheduled' or 'Enrolled']| First Name | Last Name | Phone | Center Name | Tags | Status | Created Date | Additional Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John | Doe | john@example.com | +11234567890 | Sunshine Childcare | Tour Scheduled, Infant | New | 01/01/2024 | +17877123462 |
| Jane | Smith | jane@example.com | +15556667777 | Little Learners Academy | Enrolled | Active | 02/02/2024 | +17877123464 |
- Each row represents a single family member or enrollment opportunity
- Each column represents a distinct property
- The header row is required to map fields correctly
2. Mandatory Fields
At least one of the following is required to create or update a family record:
- First Name
- Email Address
- Phone Number
Note: For updating existing families, a Unique Identifier (Family ID, Email, or Phone) is required based on your deduplication settings. For enrollment opportunities, include the Opportunity ID if updating. Without it, a new one will be created.
3. Field Formatting
Follow these specific formatting rules to avoid import failures:
| Field Type | Accepted Formats / Notes |
|---|---|
| Date Picker (Date Fields) | MM/DD/YYYY, YYYY/MM/DD, MM-DD-YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD |
| Multi-Select / Checkbox | Commas: Tour Scheduled, Infant, Semicolons: Toddler; Preschool, Periods: Yes. No ❌ Slashes = Invalid |
| Single Option (Dropdown) | One value only. Example: Enrolled |
| Family Owner | FirstName LastName — e.g., Logan Paul |
| Tags | Commas, semicolons, or periods. e.g., Tour Scheduled, Waitlist, Infant; Toddler |
| Phone Number | E.164: +11234567890 (recommended); also 123-456-7890, (123) 456-7890 (US only) |
| Invalid Phone Formats | 1234567, abc1234567 |
| Numerical Fields | 1.23, 1234, .123 |
| Monetary Fields | 1234, 1,234,234.33 |
| Family Followers | FirstName LastName, FirstName2 LastName2 — e.g., Adam Smith, David Lee |
| Additional Emails | abc@email.com, abc1@email.com |
| Additional Phone Numbers | +1 7877123460, +1 7877123461 |
4. Supported File Type and File Size
Your file must meet certain basic requirements for a successful upload.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| File Format | .csv only |
| Sheets Allowed | One sheet per file |
| Max File Size | 30 MB |
5. Required and Optional Fields for Import
Including the right fields helps Enrollio identify and process your records accurately.
| Import Action | Required/Optional Fields | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Family | Name or Email, or Phone | At least one is required |
| Update Existing Family | Family ID or Name/Email/Phone | Depends on duplicate settings |
| Header Row | Required | Headers must match existing or custom fields in Enrollio |
6. Formatting Guidelines by Field Type
To prevent import errors, follow these formatting rules for each data type in your CSV.
[SCREENSHOT: Excel or Google Sheets showing properly formatted columns including phone numbers in E.164 format, dates in MM/DD/YYYY format, and multi-select fields with comma-separated values]| Field Type | Format | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Number | E.164 or standard US formats |
+1 1234567890 123-456-7890 |
Clean and consistent formatting |
| Email Address | Standard format | name@example.com | Must include @ and domain |
| Date | Multiple accepted formats | 04/16/2025, 2025-04-16 | Choose one format and stick to it |
| Multi-Select Fields | Separate with , , ; , or . | Infant, Toddler, Preschool | Must match field options in platform |
| Additional Emails | Comma-separated | email1@example.com, email2@example.com | Add in a separate column |
| Additional Phones | Comma-separated | 1234567890, 9876543210 | Add in a separate column |
Supported Countries List in CSV Imports
This section contains a table of country names accepted during CSV imports into Enrollio. These are the official country values that should be used in your CSV file when mapping a country field, whether standard or custom.
Use the exact country names or short codes listed below in your CSV file.
Purpose: Enrollio validates country names during import. If your CSV includes a Country field, each row must match one of the exact names in this list.
Format: Must match exactly—case-sensitive and spelling-sensitive. For example, United States is accepted, but USA or U.S. will cause an error.
Custom Field Use: If you're using a custom country field, you can still benefit from sticking to this list to maintain compatibility.
| Country Name (Code) | Country Name (Code) | Country Name (Code) |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan (AF) | Albania (AL) | Algeria (DZ) |
| Andorra (AD) | Angola (AO) | Antigua and Barbuda (AG) |
| Argentina (AR) | Armenia (AM) | Australia (AU) |
| Austria (AT) | Azerbaijan (AZ) | Bahamas (BS) |
| Bahrain (BH) | Bangladesh (BD) | Barbados (BB) |
| Belarus (BY) | Belgium (BE) | Belize (BZ) |
| Benin (BJ) | Bhutan (BT) | Bolivia (BO) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA) | Botswana (BW) | Brazil (BR) |
| Brunei (BN) | Bulgaria (BG) | Burkina Faso (BF) |
| Burundi (BI) | Cabo Verde (CV) | Cambodia (KH) |
| Cameroon (CM) | Canada (CA) | Central African Republic (CF) |
| Chad (TD) | Chile (CL) | China (CN) |
| Colombia (CO) | Comoros (KM) | Congo (CG) |
| Congo (Kinshasa) (CD) | Costa Rica (CR) | Croatia (HR) |
| Cuba (CU) | Cyprus (CY) | Czech Republic (CZ) |
| Denmark (DK) | Djibouti (DJ) | Dominica (DM) |
| Dominican Republic (DO) | East Timor (TL) | Ecuador (EC) |
| Egypt (EG) | El Salvador (SV) | Equatorial Guinea (GQ) |
| Eritrea (ER) | Estonia (EE) | Eswatini (SZ) |
| Ethiopia (ET) | Fiji (FJ) | Finland (FI) |
| France (FR) | Gabon (GA) | Gambia (GM) |
| Georgia (GE) | Germany (DE) | Ghana (GH) |
| Greece (GR) | Grenada (GD) | Guatemala (GT) |
| Guinea (GN) | Guinea-Bissau (GW) | Guyana (GY) |
| Haiti (HT) | Honduras (HN) | Hungary (HU) |
| Iceland (IS) | India (IN) | Indonesia (ID) |
| Iran (IR) | Iraq (IQ) | Ireland (IE) |
| Israel (IL) | Italy (IT) | Jamaica (JM) |
| Japan (JP) | Jordan (JO) | Kazakhstan (KZ) |
| Kenya (KE) | Kiribati (KI) | Korea, North (KP) |
| Korea, South (KR) | Kosovo (XK) | Kuwait (KW) |
| Kyrgyzstan (KG) | Laos (LA) | Latvia (LV) |
| Lebanon (LB) | Lesotho (LS) | Liberia (LR) |
| Libya (LY) | Liechtenstein (LI) | Lithuania (LT) |
| Luxembourg (LU) | Madagascar (MG) | Malawi (MW) |
| Malaysia (MY) | Maldives (MV) | Mali (ML) |
| Malta (MT) | Marshall Islands (MH) | Mauritania (MR) |
| Mauritius (MU) | Mexico (MX) | Micronesia (FM) |
| Moldova (MD) | Monaco (MC) | Mongolia (MN) |
| Montenegro (ME) | Morocco (MA) | Mozambique (MZ) |
| Myanmar (MM) | Namibia (NA) | Nauru (NR) |
| Nepal (NP) | Netherlands (NL) | New Zealand (NZ) |
| Nicaragua (NI) | Niger (NE) | Nigeria (NG) |
| North Macedonia (MK) | Norway (NO) | Oman (OM) |
| Pakistan (PK) | Palau (PW) | Palestine (PS) |
| Panama (PA) | Papua New Guinea (PG) | Paraguay (PY) |
| Peru (PE) | Philippines (PH) | Poland (PL) |
| Portugal (PT) | Qatar (QA) | Romania (RO) |
| Russia (RU) | Rwanda (RW) | Saint Kitts and Nevis (KN) |
| Saint Lucia (LC) | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (VC) | Samoa (WS) |
| San Marino (SM) | Sao Tome and Principe (ST) | Saudi Arabia (SA) |
| Senegal (SN) | Serbia (RS) | Seychelles (SC) |
| Sierra Leone (SL) | Singapore (SG) | Slovakia (SK) |
| Slovenia (SI) | Solomon Islands (SB) | Somalia (SO) |
| South Africa (ZA) | South Sudan (SS) | Spain (ES) |
| Sri Lanka (LK) | Sudan (SD) | Suriname (SR) |
| Sweden (SE) | Switzerland (CH) | Syria (SY) |
| Taiwan (TW) | Tajikistan (TJ) | Tanzania (TZ) |
| Thailand (TH) | Togo (TG) | Tonga (TO) |
| Trinidad and Tobago (TT) | Tunisia (TN) | Turkey (TR) |
| Turkmenistan (TM) | Tuvalu (TV) | Uganda (UG) |
| Ukraine (UA) | United Arab Emirates (AE) | United Kingdom (GB) |
| United States (US) | Uruguay (UY) | Uzbekistan (UZ) |
| Vanuatu (VU) | Vatican City (VA) | Venezuela (VE) |
| Vietnam (VN) | Yemen (YE) | Zambia (ZM) |
| Zimbabwe (ZW) |
Supported Timezones
When importing families with timezone data, use one of the standard timezone identifiers accepted by Enrollio. Using the correct timezone ensures appointment reminders, tour confirmations, and scheduled communications are sent at the right time for each family.
Common US timezones include:
- America/New_York (Eastern Time)
- America/Chicago (Central Time)
- America/Denver (Mountain Time)
- America/Los_Angeles (Pacific Time)
- America/Anchorage (Alaska Time)
- Pacific/Honolulu (Hawaii Time)
For a complete list of supported timezones, refer to the standard IANA timezone database format (e.g., America/New_York, Europe/London, Asia/Tokyo).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import both families and enrollment opportunities in the same CSV?
Yes, you can include both family information and enrollment opportunity data in the same file. Just make sure to include the necessary fields for each record type and follow the formatting guidelines above.
What happens if I have duplicate phone numbers or emails?
Enrollio will handle duplicates based on your deduplication settings. You can choose to update existing records or skip duplicates during the import process.
How do I know if my custom fields will import correctly?
Make sure your custom fields are already created in Enrollio before importing, and that your CSV column headers match the exact field names. Field types (date, dropdown, multi-select) must also match.
Can I import tags for segmentation?
Yes! Use the Tags column in your CSV and separate multiple tags with commas, semicolons, or periods. For example: Tour Scheduled, Infant, Morning Program.
What should I do if my import fails?
Check the error message for specific issues. Common problems include: missing required fields, incorrect date formats, invalid phone numbers, or mismatched custom field names. Fix the issues in your CSV and try again.