Create a File Using the Comma Separated Values (.CSV) Format (Teacher)

Creating a .CSV (comma-separated values) file is a simple and effective way to organize and import student data into Typing.com. A .CSV file stores tabular data in plain text, making it easy to manage large lists of students. Follow these steps to create a .CSV file and get your students ready to start typing!

Pro-Tips: 

• You must use a file in the .CSV format when you’re importing a list of students to one of your classes. 

• An email address is not mandatory for each student, but the email field header must be included in the .CSV file.

• If you are building the list from scratch you can give every student the same password. Whether they can change it later is a class setting, under Class Settings > Advanced Options > Account Settings.

Typing.com will give you the file already formatted. Open the class you want to import into, click Add Students, choose Import Student List, and click download the CSV file in the Import CSV panel. You get sample_student.csv, with the header row and three example rows in it. Replace the examples with your own students, then download it as a .csv file.

Step 1: If you already have your students in a spreadsheet, skip ahead to filling it in. If you do not, make a copy of the spreadsheet template HERE.

To make a copy:

• Open the File menu

• Choose Make a copy

Step 2: Once you have your own copy, make sure the column titles in your spreadsheet match the following. (These fields are case sensitive)

• Student_Username

• Password

• First_Name

• Last_Name

• Email  

Step 3: Fill in the spreadsheet with your student’s information if you haven’t already.

IMPORTANT:

• Student_Username and Email must be unique across all of Typing.com, not just within your file. A username can be up to 30 characters, must begin with a letter, and can contain only letters, numbers, underscores and dashes.

• The Password can include letters, numbers and symbols (for example "awesome123

  quot;). It must be at least 4 and at most 30 characters, and it is case sensitive. The same password can be used for every student.

• Delete any empty rows at the bottom of the list. To do this, scroll to the bottom, select the first empty row, then use shift + command + ↓ for Mac or shift + ctrl + ↓ for PC to select all empty rows, right-click, and choose “Delete Rows ## - ##”.

• Ensure there is no white space below your last student.

• One file can hold at most 200 students. Split a bigger roster and import it in batches.

Step 4: Once the spreadsheet is filled in, download it as a Comma Separated Values (.CSV) file.

• Open the File menu

• Choose Download

• Choose Comma Separated Values (.csv)

That's it! You’ve created and downloaded a Comma Separated Values (.CSV) file. Your students are now ready to be imported into Typing.com.