excel

How To Import Excel Data Into SharePoint List

Boost your productivity with Sourcetable's AI spreadsheet assistant. Work like a spreadsheet power user and answer all your questions in seconds.


Learn more
Jump to

Introduction

Importing Excel data into a SharePoint list can significantly streamline data management and collaboration within an organization. This process allows users to leverage the power of SharePoint's features while maintaining the familiarity of Excel spreadsheets.

Understanding the steps involved in transferring information from Excel to SharePoint is essential for efficient data integration and workflow automation. However, complications can arise due to compatibility issues and manual processes.

In the following sections, we'll explore how to import Excel into SharePoint lists, and discover why Sourcetable's AI-powered approach - which lets you analyze data, create visualizations, and perform complex operations through simple chat conversations - offers a more efficient alternative to traditional Excel functions. Try Sourcetable today to experience how AI can transform your spreadsheet workflows.

excel

Import Excel into SharePoint List

Preparing Your Excel File

Ensure that your Excel file has a table formatted correctly with supported data types. Unsupported data types will be converted by Excel during the import process.

Importing to an Existing SharePoint List

To import data into an existing SharePoint list without overwriting, use the app feature that allows you to update lists with new data without creating a new list each time.

Creating a New SharePoint List from Excel

Use the SharePoint feature to import an Excel spreadsheet and create a new list. Ensure you have the necessary permissions on your SharePoint site to create lists.

Exporting Excel Table to SharePoint

Directly export an Excel table to a SharePoint list using the built-in export functionality. This requires Excel and Access for datasheet view integration.

Considerations for Different SharePoint Versions

Be aware that SharePoint 2010, 2013, and 2016 have unique methods for importing from Excel. Follow the specific guidelines for your version of SharePoint.

excel
excel

Use Cases for Excel to SharePoint List Integration

Centralizing Departmental Budget Tracking

Transform scattered Excel-based budget sheets into a unified SharePoint list accessible to all stakeholders. This allows real-time budget monitoring and eliminates version control issues commonly faced with distributed Excel files.

Automating Data Collection for Project Management

Convert Excel-based project trackers into dynamic SharePoint lists to streamline team collaboration. Project managers can easily monitor progress, while team members can update their tasks directly in SharePoint, ensuring data consistency.

Enhancing Collaborative Data Analysis

Move Excel-based analysis tools into SharePoint lists to enable multiple team members to work with the same dataset simultaneously. This creates a single source of truth and allows for more efficient team-based analysis.

Streamlining Inventory Management Processes

Convert Excel-based inventory spreadsheets into interactive SharePoint lists for better stock tracking and management. This enables real-time updates and automated notifications when inventory levels change.

Facilitating Real-Time Reporting and Dashboard Updates

Transform Excel reports into SharePoint lists to power dynamic dashboards and automated reports. This ensures that all stakeholders have access to the latest data and eliminates manual report compilation.

sourcetable

Excel vs. Sourcetable: The Future of Spreadsheets

While Excel has been the go-to spreadsheet solution for decades, Sourcetable represents the next evolution in data analysis and spreadsheet technology. Sourcetable is an AI-powered spreadsheet that transforms complex data tasks into simple conversations, eliminating the need to learn complicated functions or formulas. Whether you're analyzing large datasets or creating stunning visualizations, Sourcetable's AI chatbot handles the heavy lifting while you focus on getting insights. Try Sourcetable today to experience how AI can answer any spreadsheet question.

Natural Language Interface

Excel requires users to master hundreds of functions and formulas, while Sourcetable lets you simply chat with an AI to perform any analysis. Just describe what you want to accomplish, and Sourcetable's AI will handle the technical details.

Data Processing and Analysis

Excel has size limitations and can slow down with large datasets. Sourcetable handles files of any size and connects directly to databases, letting you analyze unlimited amounts of data through simple conversational commands.

Visualization and Reporting

Instead of manually creating charts and formatting data in Excel, Sourcetable's AI automatically generates stunning visualizations based on your requirements. Simply describe the visualization you want, and Sourcetable creates it instantly.

Workflow Automation

While Excel requires manual setup of complex formulas and macros, Sourcetable automates entire workflows through natural language requests. Users can generate sample data, perform analysis, and create reports by simply asking the AI chatbot.

excel

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ways to import Excel data into a SharePoint list?

There are two main methods: 1) Create a new list from an Excel file using the Lists app in Microsoft 365, SharePoint, or Teams, or 2) Export an Excel table directly to a SharePoint list using the Export function in Excel's ribbon.

What are the requirements for the Excel file when importing to SharePoint?

The Excel file must be in .xlsx format and can contain up to 20,000 rows. The data must be formatted as a table and match the column structure of the SharePoint list you're importing to.

How do I add Excel data to an existing SharePoint list?

Open the SharePoint list, click Edit, select the last row, copy the Excel values, paste them into the selected row, click Stop to finish editing, and refresh the list to see the imported data.

What should I do if I get an error saying the list already exists?

Check the site's recycle bin, as the list may be there. You'll need to either restore or delete it from the recycle bin before creating a new list with the same name.

Conclusion

Importing Excel data into SharePoint lists requires multiple steps and careful attention to detail. This process can be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially for large datasets.

A simpler solution exists with modern AI-powered spreadsheet tools. Sourcetable's built-in AI chatbot eliminates the complexity of data imports and transformations.

Skip the manual import process and try Sourcetable today.



Sourcetable Logo

Work smarter, not harder

Boost your productivity with Sourcetable's AI spreadsheet assistant. Answer all your questions about spreadsheets in seconds. Try for free to get started.

Drop CSV