Features Solutions Pricing FAQs Contact
Sign In

Grids

Smartsheet Import Into Existing Sheet

Smartsheet's native import always creates a brand-new sheet. There is no built-in way to import a CSV or Excel file and have the rows appended to a sheet that already has formatting, formulas, column configurations, and sharing settings. Teams that receive regular data exports from other systems — CRMs, ERPs, or reporting tools — must manually copy rows from the import sheet into the live sheet every time.

Without Grid Tools

The daily workaround

Import creates a new sheet
Every Smartsheet import generates a separate sheet with generic column headers, disconnected from the existing sheet's structure and settings.
Copy rows across sheets manually
After each import, users open both sheets side by side and copy rows from the import sheet into the live sheet, mapping columns by hand.
Reformat after every transfer
The imported sheet's column order rarely matches the live sheet, so users reorder or remap data after each paste to avoid misaligned columns.
Repeat on each data refresh
Teams receiving weekly or daily data exports from external systems repeat this entire process each time a new file arrives.
Screenshot: Smartsheet import creates a new sheet
Native import — a new separate sheet is always created
Screenshot: Copying rows from import sheet to live sheet
Manually copying rows from the import sheet into the live sheet
Screenshot: Realigning columns after paste
Realigning column data after pasting into a sheet with a different structure

With Grid Tools

How Grid Tools handles it

Import directly into an existing sheet
Grid Tools appends imported rows from a CSV or Excel file to a sheet you specify — no intermediate new sheet created.
Column mapping preserved
Imported data is matched to the target sheet's column structure so rows land in the correct columns without manual reordering.
Existing formatting and formulas intact
The target sheet's column settings, formulas, sharing permissions, and conditional formatting are undisturbed by the import.
Repeat imports without manual steps
Import updated data files into the same sheet on a regular basis without rebuilding the mapping or transferring rows by hand each time.
Screenshot: Grid Tools import dialog with target sheet selector
Selecting an existing sheet as the import destination
Screenshot: Column mapping configuration in Grid Tools
Mapping imported columns to the existing sheet's structure
Screenshot: Rows appended to the existing sheet
Imported rows added to the live sheet with formatting intact

Frequently asked questions

Can Smartsheet import data into an existing sheet?

Native Smartsheet imports always create a new sheet. There is no built-in option to append imported rows to an existing sheet. Grid Tools adds this capability directly inside Smartsheet.

What file formats can be imported with Grid Tools?

Grid Tools supports importing from Excel (.xlsx) and CSV (.csv) files — the same formats supported by Smartsheet's native import.

Will importing overwrite existing rows in the sheet?

Grid Tools appends imported rows to the sheet — it does not overwrite or replace existing rows. Existing data remains unchanged.

What happens if the imported file has columns not present in the target sheet?

Grid Tools' column mapping step lets you decide how to handle unmatched columns — you can map them to existing columns or skip them during the import configuration.

Related solutions

Ready to try it?

Download for free. Upgrade when ready.

Download free See all features