Guide
Import a spreadsheet into a route planner
Getting the sheet ready
Before importing, check two things.
One stop per row
Merged cells, a header block above the data or two addresses crammed into one cell are the usual causes of a messy import. A plain rectangle of data imports cleanly.
Use one complete address column or separate fields
A single column of complete addresses (121 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60602) is the simplest and works well. Separate street, city, state and ZIP columns work equally well. What causes trouble is a sheet where the street column sometimes contains the city too and sometimes does not.
Apartment and suite numbers are worth keeping in their own column if you have them. They rarely change where the pin lands, but they matter a great deal when the driver is standing in a lobby.
Column names the importer recognizes
Header names are matched automatically, and you can correct the mapping before anything is imported. Any of these are understood:
| Field | Headers it recognizes |
|---|---|
| Street address | address, address line, address line 1, street address, street, road, full address, delivery address |
| House number | house number, building number, number, no |
| Unit or apartment | unit, apartment, apt, suite, address line 2 |
| ZIP code | zip, zip code, postal, postal code, postcode |
| City | city, town, locality |
| State | state, state code, region, province |
| Notes | notes, note, customer, customer name, contact, delivery notes, delivery instructions |
A sheet without headers also works. The importer treats the content as addresses and asks you to confirm the mapping.
Importing, step by step
- 1
Copy the addresses
Select the address column in Excel or Google Sheets and copy. Include the header row if you have one; it improves the mapping. - 2
Paste into the import panel
Open the planner, choose the import tab and paste. For a file, drag in a .xlsx, .csv, .txt or .tsv instead. - 3
Check the column mapping
Confirm which column is the street, which is the ZIP, which is the note. Fix anything mapped wrongly before continuing. - 4
Review the flagged addresses
Anything the geocoder was unsure about is listed with its candidates on a map. Pick the right one, or drop a pin yourself. This is the step that decides whether your route makes sense. - 5
Set start and end, then optimize
Add where you leave from and whether you finish there, then optimize and open the route in your navigation app.
Why bad matches matter more than they look
One address in the wrong place affects more than that stop. The optimizer treats it as a real destination and builds the order around reaching it. A ZIP typo that places a pin sixty miles away can distort the entire route.
That is why nothing ambiguous imports silently. The correction step exists because it is cheaper to fix one address at the depot than to discover it at 2pm on the far side of the metro.
Common causes include a ZIP that belongs to a neighboring town, a street name that exists in several suburbs, a rural route number and a new development that has not reached the address data yet.
Frequently asked questions
Which file types can I upload?
Excel (.xlsx), CSV, TXT and TSV. You can also skip the file entirely and paste a column of addresses straight from Excel or Google Sheets into the import box.
Do my columns need specific headers?
No. The importer recognizes common names for each field. For example, 'zip', 'ZIP Code' and 'postal code' all map to the same field. You can correct the mapping before importing.
What if my addresses are all in one column?
That works fine. A single column of complete addresses like '121 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60602' is the most common format and needs no splitting.
What happens to an address that cannot be found?
It is held back rather than guessed at. You get the candidate matches on a map, pick the right one, or drop a pin yourself. One address silently placed at a city center can wreck the whole stop order, so nothing ambiguous goes through unreviewed.
Can I import customer names and delivery notes?
Yes. A notes column comes through with each stop and appears in the planner, in the printable summary and in mobile route mode. It is never sent to the geocoding or routing services.
How many rows can I import at once?
Up to 100 stops per route. If your sheet is longer, create separate driver or day groups before importing; this planner does not split work across vehicles automatically.
Is there a template?
Yes. The import panel has a downloadable CSV template with the expected columns already set up.
Paste tomorrow's list
Copy the column out of the sheet you already have open and see how it comes through.
Open the planner