Import projects and resources from spreadsheets into Meisterplan so you can start making plans.
- Required User Access Rights
- Supported Formats
- Importing Projects from Spreadsheets
- Importing Resources from Spreadsheets
- Testing the Import with Sample Data
- Data Import and Project Fields
Required User Access Rights
For importing projects or resources as described in this article, your user account needs the following access rights:
- Access Level: Administrator or Data Manager
- User Rights:
- Either the Edit Plan of Record right or edit rights for at least one scenario
- Use Resource Pool and Edit Absences
- (only when importing projects) Add Projects and Programs
Supported Formats
You can import data from all common spreadsheet formats, such as Microsoft Excel (both desktop application and Office 365 version) or Google Spreadsheets.
Importing Projects from Spreadsheets
Follow these steps to import projects from spreadsheets. If a project already exists, Meisterplan ignores it during import in order to avoid duplicates.
First, select the Plan of Record or scenario into which you want to import your projects.
Then, click Import and Export and select Import Projects:
Step 1: Prepare Data
Copy the desired project data from your spreadsheet.
Please note: Meisterplan cuts off your texts if they exceed the character limit. For an overview of the character limits in the various fields, see the Manage Fields article.
Step 2: Paste & Preview Data
Paste the data from your clipboard. In this step, you can copy and paste different project data as often as you like.
Step 3: Assign Fields
If your imported column name matches an existing Meisterplan field, Meisterplan will save you the effort and assign it automatically. If you’d like to change a field assignment, you can just drag and drop it to the desired location.
Step 4: Validate & Edit Data
In this step you can validate your data before import. Simply edit the highlighted field by clicking on it. If your spreadsheet contains a column with respective project managers, Meisterplan can only import them if the name matches an existing resource.
Finally, click Import, and your projects will be available in the Plan of Record or the selected scenario.
It depends on your user account's access rights where the imported projects are placed in the portfolio: If you have the Change Project Rank right, they are placed right above the red Cut-Off line. If not, they are placed right below the Cut-Off line.
You'd like to test the import? Download our sample project list and import it into your Meisterplan.
Importing Resources from Spreadsheets
Follow these steps to import resources from spreadsheets. If a resource already exists, Meisterplan ignores it during import in order to avoid duplicates.
Click Import and Export, and then select Import Resources:
Step 1: Prepare Data
Copy the desired resource data from your spreadsheet.
Step 2: Paste & Preview Data
Paste the data from your clipboard. In this step, you can copy and paste different resource data as often as you like.
Step 3: Assign Fields
If your imported column name matches an existing Meisterplan field, Meisterplan will save you the effort and assign it automatically. If you’d like to change a field assignment, you can just drag and drop it to the desired location.
Step 4: Validate & Edit Data
In this step you can validate your data before import. If your spreadsheet contains new values which are not yet in Meisterplan, for example roles or departments, they will be added during import:
Finally, click Import. Your resources are now available in the Resource Pool.
You'd like to test the import? Download our sample resource list and import it into your Meisterplan.
Testing the Import with Sample Data
Easily test the import with the help of our sample spreadsheets. You can download them in Meisterplan at the start of the spreadsheet import:
Or download the sample spreadsheets here and start the import in Meisterplan:
Download: Sample project list
Download: Sample resource list
With only a few clicks, you will complete all steps, get a feeling for the data preparation and what to pay specific attention to during the import.
Your existing data will not be overwritten or deleted by the test import!
Data Import and Project Fields
If you want to import project data that doesn’t have a corresponding project field in Meisterplan yet, you’ll need to add the field before import. The Manage Fields article shows you how to do this.
If you assign project data to a “Lookup” project field during import, the field values not yet in Meisterplan will automatically be added during import.
For example, you have the “Status” project field with Lookup Values “No issues” and “Critical”:
If you then import a project with “Watchlist” as its status, “Watchlist” will automatically be added as a new Lookup Value for the “Status” project field in Meisterplan.