---
title: "Import From CSV"
slug: "import-from-csv"
updated: 2026-01-07T15:52:36Z
published: 2026-01-07T15:52:36Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/import-from-csv"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Import From CSV

| ## Step Details |
| --- |
| **Introduced in Version** | 4.0.0 |
| **Last Modified in Version** | 7.12.0 |
| **Location** | Database |

The Import Excel or CSV step loads tabular data from CSV or Excel-formatted files. The function of this step is to import an Excel or CSV file into a data type. The assumption is that the datatype being imported has properties that correspond to the columns of the Excel file.

### Considerations

In **v9.15**, the **Import from CSV** step will only support the following .csv file encoding types: **UTF8**, **ASCII**, and **Latin1**.

---

## Properties

#### Inputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Import File | The csv file containing the data to be imported | FileData |
| Type Name | Name of the Data Type being used for the import. The step requires the full type name to be used. | String |

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2026-01-07_10h31_09.png)

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2026-01-07_10h33_00.png)In **v9.15**, the **Import from CSV** step will only support the following .csv file encoding types: **UTF8**, **ASCII**, and **Latin1**.

---

## Example Inputs and Outputs

#### ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1673559856031.png)

```none
Inputs: {
TypeName:
ImportFile: {
Id:
FileName:
Length:
FileType
Outputs: [
{
path: Done
data: {}
```

---

## Common Errors

### Object reference not set to an instance of an object

The step requires the fully qualified name for a datatype to be used, for example, PerformanceTesting.ExampleList. The input is case sensitive and must match exactly

#### Exception Message:

```cpp
Exception Stack Trace: DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Import From CSV 1[ImportFromCSV] in flow [Testing]: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.DataBase.ImportFromCSV.Run(StepStartData data)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.RunStepInternal(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, KeyValuePairDataStructure[] stepRunDataValues, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.Start(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, FlowStateData data, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData, RunningStepData currentStepData) 
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
```

---

## Step Changes

| Description | Version | Release | Developer Task |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The import from CSV step will only support .csv file encodings of UTF-8, ASCII, and Latin-1. | [9.15](https://documentation.decisions.com/v99/docs/version-915x-release-notes) | September 2025 | [DT-045459] |