Column mapping
Match the columns in your CSV or Excel file to Hoursmith fields — auto-detection, required fields, the date-format picker, and per-entity options.
When you import a spreadsheet, the column-mapping step is where you tell Hoursmith which of your columns maps to which field.
- Role
- OwnerAdmin
Column mapping is part of the CSV / Excel import, run by Owner and Admin.
How mapping works
Headers are auto-detected
The wizard reads your file's header row and auto-detects a best-guess mapping for each column.
Adjust the dropdowns
For each Hoursmith field, pick the matching column from a dropdown (or correct any auto-detected guess that's off).
Clear required fields
A required field with no mapping blocks the Preview step. Map every required field for your entity before you can continue.
Required fields by entity
| Entity | Required |
|---|---|
| Client | name |
| Project | name, client |
| Time entry | date, project, user, hours |
Per-entity options on this step
- Date-format picker — appears for dated entities: Auto, US (MM-DD), or EU (DD-MM).
- Create missing clients — a toggle for Projects, so a project's client is created if it doesn't exist yet.
- Map your team — a per-user step for Time entries, with a credit to me option.
Start from the pre-filled CSV templates on the import page — their headers already line up with Hoursmith's fields, so auto-detection gets almost everything right.
Troubleshooting
- I can't reach Preview. A required field is unmapped — check the table above and set it.
- Dates look off in the preview. Choose US (MM-DD) or EU (DD-MM) explicitly rather than Auto.
- A project's client is missing. Turn on Create missing clients when importing projects.