Streamlining your inspection process starts with having the right template. If you've been using a different software or have customized spreadsheets that you'd like to integrate into Spectora, you're in luck. Spectora allows you to import your existing template spreadsheets directly into the platform, making the transition smooth and efficient. This feature ensures that you can maintain the consistency and detail of your previous reports while taking advantage of Spectora's advanced capabilities. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps to import your template spreadsheets into Spectora, so you can get up and running with minimal hassle.
💡 Pro-tip: If you have a .csv or other file type, convert it to .xls or .xlsx first before attempting to import it
Important Columns for Importing Your Spreadsheet
To begin importing, first, ensure you have the right column formatting on the spreadsheet:
Follow this guide:
Section Name
Item Name
Comment Name
Comment Text
Comment Type (info, limit, defect)
Category (-1: Low, 0: Med, 1: High)
Multiple Choice Options (comma-separated)
Unit Type Options (numeric answers only, comma-separated)
Recommendation (from list)
Order (w/i item)
Answer Type (boolean, checkbox, date, number, range, text)
Default Value
Default Value 2 (for "range" types)
Default Unit Type (for "number" and "range" types)
Default Location
Default Estimate Min
Default Estimate Max
Locked (true/false)
Simple Format
Disable Photos (true/false)
Uses
Default Photo 1
Default Photo 1 Caption
Default Photo 2
Default Photo 2 Caption
Default Photo 3
Default Photo 3 Caption
Last Modified
❇️ You can also download this sample which has the correct column formatting!
Importing Your Spreadsheet into Spectora
Now that you have your columns set up on your spreadsheet, you're ready to import! Follow along with the steps below to import your spreadsheet as a template.
 💡 Quick tip: Click on the video above to expand it in another window. |
Click "Templates"
Click the 3 dots in the top right corner
Click "Add Templates" in the dropdown menu
Click "Import from a Spreadsheet"
Select your spreadsheet file from your computer
Click "Import Template"
The template will start building in your account
Once the template has finished building, it will populate on your screen with the title "Imported from XLS - today's date"
The template will also show with the same title in your "My Templates" list
Frequently Asked Questions
I imported my spreadsheet in as a template after I exported it from Spectora for editing, and some info is missing/settings have changed. What happened?
When exporting your template from your Spectora template library, if you chose the "plain text" export option (instead of HTML), this would have caused you to lose any HTML (links, videos, images, etc.) and styling (bold, italics, colors, etc.) you have added to your comments.
These would need to be added back into the report template manually once it has been imported into your Template Library.
You can also use the Copy Template Settings option if you need to copy settings from one of your existing templates into your newly imported template since any new template will have default settings applied.
❇️ Pro-tip: ❇️
If you need to export your template into a spreadsheet, you can do so with these steps here!
If you have any questions or feedback, write into our chat bubble or email support@spectora.com!
