> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.ordereazi.com/central/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.ordereazi.com/central/order-management/clients/import-clients.md).

# Import Clients

Typing in hundreds of clients one at a time takes days, and copying them from another system invites typing mistakes. Import Clients in OrderEazi adds and updates clients from an Excel spreadsheet. Clients already in OrderEazi are matched by code or name and updated, and new ones are added.

### Before you start

You'll need the **Create Client** permission, in the **Clients** permission group.

### How to import clients

1. In the main menu, select **Clients**.
2. Select **Import Clients**.
3. Select **Download Template**.
4. Fill in one row for each client. See [Filling in the Client Import Sheet](/central/order-management/clients/import-clients/filling-in-the-client-import-sheet.md).
5. Save the file as Excel (.xlsx or .xls).
6. Drop the file onto **Drop Excel file here to upload**, or select it.

You see "Import was successful." and go back to the client list.

**Example:** You're moving 400 clients from a spreadsheet. You copy them into the template, with their codes, payment terms, and contacts, and import the file. 397 are added. Three rows are listed with errors because their payment terms aren't numbers, so you fix them and import those three again.

### How rows are matched

* **By code, then by name:** A row whose **Code** matches an active client updates that client. If there's no code match, a row whose name matches one updates it. Any other row adds a new client.
* **Codes aren't changed:** An existing client's code is never overwritten by the import.
* **Missing columns are left alone:** A column you leave out of the file doesn't change that detail. An empty number cell also leaves the value as it was.
* **Two clients with the same name:** You're asked to add a unique **Code** to show which one to update.

### When rows have problems

If any row has an error or a warning, you see "Something went wrong, please review the errors below." with each row number and what's wrong.

* **Errors:** The row isn't imported, for example when the client name is missing or the payment terms aren't a number. The other rows are still saved.
* **Warnings:** Marked "(WARNING)". The row is imported with a default instead, for example the organisation currency for an unknown currency, or No VAT for an unknown tax type.

If a required column is missing from the file, you see "Required column ... was not found in the uploaded file." Download the template again.

### Related pages

* [Filling in the Client Import Sheet](/central/order-management/clients/import-clients/filling-in-the-client-import-sheet.md): what to put in each column
* [Clients](/central/order-management/clients.md): add one client at a time