Uploading a CSV

Dispatch requires uploads to be in CSV format. Any file not already in CSV format will need to be converted. The below instructions assume use of an excel file as the starting point.

Prep the file for import

• Make sure first row contains the column headers and there are no breaks in the rows in the data.
• Rename the column label for email as TOADDRESS.
• If the email will be personalized, rename the necessary fields that will be referenced so there are no spaces.
  • Examples
    • First Name = FNAME or First_Name
    • Last Name = LNAME or Last_Name

• Remove any unnecessary columns needed for the communication. Keep the TOADDRESS column and any columns needed for personalization. Removing unnecessary columns is not required but is helpful if you need to tweak the population after import.
• Click File, Save As then Browse.
• Select the folder you’d like to save the file in (image shows saving to Desktop).

• Change the Save as type to CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (*csv)
• Change the file name to the desired name then click Save.
• Once saved, you can close the csv file.

Importing csv into Dispatch

• Click Populations.
• Click which brings you to this screen:

• Click Configure located in top left-hand corner above the Manual Email List box.
• Change the Name of the population to what is desired (internal use only).
• Add a Description if you like (internal use only).
• Change the population type to Manual CSV List.

• Click Add members which will return you to the previous screen.
• Click Browse. Options that appear will include all filetypes, being sure to select the csv file as excel files will not load correctly. Once file is selected it will appear nothing has occurred, however, in the bottom right-hand corner it should list the selected file name.

• Type TOADDRESS in the Exclusion Key box. This prevents multiple messages with the same key (email) from being sent within the communication.
• Click Save. You will be re-directed to the Configure screen. Navigate back to the members tab to verify load. You should see a similar screen as below and have a population ready to be used in a communication.

• Click Preview to make sure the population renders correctly. If an error occurs, make sure there are no additional characters such as a bullet (•) in the list.

Using the population above in a communication, on the preview screen it will display each email separately. However, upon scheduling it will generate 1 email per person if the exclusion key step is not skipped.