Adding Learners using the File Upload Method

Uploading a file is one of the quickest and easiest ways to add Learners to the dashboard and assign courses. However, it is important that your file is prepared correctly. Please read on to find out how to prepare a file and upload it to your EasyLlama Dashboard.

First time uploading? If in doubt, please email Support@EasyLlama.com, making sure to attach your file. We'll be happy to review your file for potential issues and advise on how to make it work!

1. Step One: Prepare your file

First download the file template - it is available for download when you click Add Learner > File Upload.

Considerations

• Column headings in your file must match these field names exactly to successfully map your data to the dashboard. For example: "Work email" instead of "Email" may cause emails not to be imported with your records.
• First and Last Names may not be in one combined column.
• Keep it simple: avoid special formatting
• Extra columns that don't map to any EasyLlama fields should be removed to avoid them interfering with the upload.

Required Columns

• First Name
• Last Name
• *Email: Not required, but highly recommended, since this is how notifications are usually sent) Email must be unique for a file upload. If several people have the same email address, only one will upload. If someone already exists in the dashboard with the same email, no new record will be created and no new course will be assigned. Conversely, if you upload a file with an already-existing learner with a different email, a duplicate record will be created with the new email.
• Training Type: It is important to use the correct Training Type Codes to assign training. Training Type codes can be found by going to the Learners tab, clicking "Add Learners" and choosing the File Upload method. Then click "How to Prepare the CSV file" (highlighted in yellow in the first capture below) and then "See list of codes here" (Highlighted in the second capture below).
  Important: If you do not wish to assign training, you must enter N/A in this field. Leaving this blank will cause the wrong training to be assigned.
  To assign multiple trainings, simply separate them with a comma. Example: harassment-us-supervisor,diversity. Do not make separate columns or additional files for multiple trainings.

Optional Columns

These are many optional columns. If the data doesn't need to be in the dashboard, it's best practice not to include it.

• Middle Name
• Location (Used for companies with multiple offices)
• State: Full State name or two-letter abbreviations CA, NY, ME, etc. For Canada, simply use Canada. This column will map to the Region field in the dashboard.
• Role: Must enter supervisor or non-supervisor - no other values will be accepted. Titles like "Manager" or "Shift Supervisor" should be added to the Title field.
• ID – Employee ID
• Title – Learner’s Title
• Department - Learner's department within your organization.
• Manager – Name of Learner’s supervisor. (e.g. John Doe)
• Phone number (e.g. 650-312-1122)

1. Step Two: Review Your Data

It goes without saying that it's important to review your data before uploading, but here are some things to look for:

• Spaces - there should be no leading or trailing spaces, that is, no spaces in front of or after any value in your file. These spaces often occur when copy+pasting values from another source. They can be hard to spot if your data is formatted to be centered in your cells.
• Blank Rows - If you have blank rows you are likely to get <Learner Blank> Errors when you upload. Your file will probably still upload, so if you see these errors, check to see if your data uploaded despite them.
• Duplicate emails - Only one person per email will upload; others will be discarded as duplicates. Sometimes two family members might share an email, or you may want to upload learners who don't have an email and send their course link to their manager's email. In these cases, leave email blank, and you can manually add it in the dashboard after upload, or you can add these Learners manually.
• Formatting - we suggest using minimal formatting to avoid upload errors. Formatting in empty cells can cause <Learner Blank Errors>
• Hidden Rows and Columns - hidden rows and columns have been at the root of many upload mysteries! Be sure you don't have any of these!
• Multiple tabs - You may only upload one tab. Make sure you remove any additional tabs, to avoid issues.

1. Step 3: Save Your File

• Best practice is to save the file as a .csv file before uploading. If available .csv UTF-8 seems to work the best, and usually removes excess formatting for you.

1. Step 4: Upload your file
   Finally! It's time to upload your file!
   If you are concerned, have questions, or even if it's a very large file, please feel free to send it to support@easyllama.com for review and upload. Please make sure to attach the file to your email in Excel or .CSV format. It's easier for us to help before you upload than after!
   If you're ready, simply go to the Learners Tab of your dashboard, click "Add Learners," choose "File Upload" and then "Choose File," then click the Upload button and wait to be notified that your Learners were uploaded successfully.
   Got Errors? 504 Timeout errors are common here if the file is large. Learner Blank errors are also common. Your Learners most likely still uploaded correctly, though, so take a look at the Learners tab before troubleshooting!
   If you got another type of error message, please copy and paste it (good) or take a screen capture (best). Then, go to your Learners tab first and see if the upload worked. If it didn't, please send the error code and file to support@easyllama.com. We'll take a look!
2. Step 5: Review your data
   Take a look at your Learners tab to make sure that everyone uploaded with correct data, and that correct courses were assigned. At this point, unless there is a huge issue, it's best to make manual corrections.
   If there is a huge issue and you need help, you guessed it! Send a description of the issue, and your file to support@easyllama.com!
   If everything looks good, move on to the next step!
3. Step 6: Send the Notifications!

• To send the notifications to only some Learners, check the boxes next to their names and then click the "Notify" button
• To send the notifications to all Learners in your dashboard with an incomplete course, you'll select all Learners before clicking "Notify." For more information on selecting all Learners, please see this article.

That's it! Your Learners have been notified, and you can now track their progress in the dashboard!