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How To: Import a Price List into the Catalog

Learn how to import a price list into your Catalog using Excel, CSV, or TSV files. This guide covers uploading your file, mapping columns, reviewing imported items, and resolving common import issues.

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Written by TakeCost

Instead of entering materials one at a time, you can import an existing price list directly into your Catalog. TakeCost supports common spreadsheet formats and allows you to map your columns before importing, making it easy to bring in pricing from Excel, suppliers, or other estimating software.

Supported File Types

TakeCost accepts:

  • CSV (.csv)

  • Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)

  • Tab-separated (.tsv)

You can import price lists exported from:

  • Excel

  • PlanSwift

  • Bluebeam

  • Supplier catalogs

  • Any spreadsheet containing item names and prices

Step 1: Upload Your Price List

  1. Open Catalog.

  2. Click Import Price List.

  3. Drag and drop your file into the upload area, or click to browse your computer.

  4. Select your spreadsheet.

Once uploaded, TakeCost will automatically detect the columns in your file and move to the mapping step.

Step 2: Map Your Columns

TakeCost will ask you to match the columns from your spreadsheet with the appropriate Catalog fields.

Required Fields

The following fields are required:

  • Item Name

  • Unit Price

Without these fields, the import cannot be completed.

Optional Fields

You can also map any of the following if they exist in your spreadsheet:

  • Unit of Measure

  • Coverage per Unit

  • Sold As

  • Waste Factor (%)

  • Labour Cost

  • Description

If your spreadsheet doesn't contain one of these fields, simply select Skip.

Tip: You only need to map the columns that exist in your spreadsheet. Everything else can safely be skipped.

Step 3: Review Your Import

Before anything is added to your Catalog, TakeCost provides a summary of the import.

You'll see:

  • Ready to Import – Items that will be imported successfully.

  • Duplicates – Existing materials that will be skipped.

  • Missing Data – Items missing required information that cannot be imported.

Review the list to ensure everything looks correct.

When you're ready, click Import to add the materials to your Catalog.

Best Practices

For the smoothest import:

  • Use clear column headings.

  • Ensure prices are stored as numbers.

  • Remove empty rows from your spreadsheet.

  • Include unique material names to reduce duplicates.

  • Save your file as CSV or Excel before importing.

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