CSV import now supports reference and multi-reference fields

<p>Importing CMS content <a href="<https://university.webflow.com/lesson/import-products-and-variants>">via CSV</a> is a great way to speed up the process of moving from other platforms to Webflow — but before today, importing reference fields was no fun. And by “no fun” we mean “not possible.”</p><p>But hey, good news is here: now you can map CSV content to reference<em> and</em> multi-reference fields during the import process.&nbsp;</p><figure class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-fullwidth" style="max-width:1600px" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="fullwidth" data-rt-max-width="1600px"><div><img src="<https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64f9399ca7d13575ff21a675/64f9399ca7d13575ff21d426PTSNtOpo4NXOPchSA4rjaG7tIxlTC9LbDdzK1uJVnWq2uzQh7jt77aTkCNE22pK6BKq7DEBfMyKoMrMIOwaggbmRsDpIJcilQMKNLn9M2WwsUUUtJj5GOVmeJMS0iwu2bei.png>" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto" alt="Map CSV content to single and multi-reference fields during the import process."></div><figcaption>Map CSV content to single and multi-reference fields during the import process.</figcaption></figure><p>As the import takes place, Webflow checks the referenced Collection to confirm the imported values map to existing content in that Collection — then takes care of setting the values for each item just like any other field.</p><p>That said, there are a couple of special considerations to keep in mind as you prepare your CSV for import.</p><h2>Formatting guidelines</h2><p><strong>Multi-reference field</strong> content should be separated by semicolons within its cell (e.g. “Charles Dickens; Jane Austen; Charlotte Bronte”) just like multi-image field content.</p><p><strong>Single-reference field</strong> content can be formatted as normal text — no special formatting required (e.g. “Charles Dickens”).</p><p>One nice note about formatting is that exported Webflow CMS content will be properly formatted for importing as well — so moving content from one Webflow site to another should be a breeze.</p><p>For more info on CSV content formatting guidelines for all field types, check out our <a href="<https://university.webflow.com/lesson/import-products-and-variants>">documentation</a>.</p><h2>Required fields and error treatment</h2><p>If a cell within a column you’ve mapped to a <strong>required</strong> reference field is empty, or does not contain any values that exist in that referenced Collection, then the item for that row will <strong>set to a draft</strong> upon import, and the reference <strong>field will be left blank.</strong></p><p>If the mapped reference field is <strong>not required</strong> and a cell within that column is empty, or does not contain any values that exist in that referenced Collection, then the item for that row will be set<strong> to staged for publish</strong> upon import, and the reference <strong>field will be left blank.</strong></p><p>For a closer look at the nitty-gritty of how CSV import works, check out our <a href="<https://university.webflow.com/lesson/import-products-and-variants>">article on Webflow University</a>.</p>