Import equipment from a spreadsheet

If your equipment list is already in Excel or Google Sheets, import it rather than typing it in again.

1. Save the sheet as CSV. In Excel: File → Save As → CSV. In Google Sheets: File → Download → Comma-separated values. The first row must be column headings, and each row after it is one item.
2. In FlowNext, go to Equipment → Import CSV.
3. Choose the file and press Import.

The columns FlowNext reads

Columns are matched by their heading, ignoring capitals. Only a name column is required. Each field accepts any of these headings:

• Name: “name”, “asset name”, “item name”, “equipment”, “item” or “description”
• Asset number: “asset number”, “asset #”, “asset no”, “id”, “asset id”, “unit” or “unit number”
• Category: “category”, “type” or “asset type”
• Location: “location”, “current location”, “site”, “jobsite” or “folder path”
• Serial number: “serial number”, “serial”, “serial #”, “s/n” or “sn”
• Make: “make”, “manufacturer” or “brand”
• Model: “model” or “model number”
• Purchase date: “purchase date”, “purchased” or “date purchased”
• Purchase price: “purchase price”, “price” or “cost”
• Engine hours: “engine hours”, “hours” or “hour meter”
• Barcode: “barcode”, “barcode #”, “barcode number” or “qr code”
• Quantity: “quantity” or “qty”
• Notes: “notes”, “comments” or “description”

Other columns are skipped. To keep one, copy it into a Notes column first. A Barcode column links the code already on each item, so the in-app scanner finds it from the old sticker. Categories and locations named in the file that don't exist yet are created for you. Up to 2,000 rows per file.

Moving from another app

An export from Sortly, EZOfficeInventory, ShareMyToolbox or GoCodes can be uploaded as it is, without renaming columns. FlowNext recognises the file by its headings, reads it with that app's column names, and keeps any column it has no field for in each item's notes under “From app:”. The import page shows how to get the export out of each app. Sortly's folders become each item's location, and photos and attached files don't come across.

When a row has a problem

The import is all or nothing. If any row can't be read — a missing name, a purchase date that isn't written as YYYY-MM-DD or MM/DD/YYYY, more items than your plan allows — nothing is imported, and the page lists every problem by line number. Fix them in the spreadsheet and upload again. You never end up with half a list.

After the import

Every imported item has its own QR tag. Press Print tags on the Equipment list to print them all. See Print QR labels for your equipment.