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📝 CSV upload: Correct date formats for flowit

Overview

To successfully upload a CSV file to flowit, specific date columns must follow a strict format. Deviations will cause import errors or incorrect data processing.

Required columns

  • birthdate
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  • start_date
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  • termination_date
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Required format

  • yyyy-mm-dd (year–month–day)
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When should you use this optimization?

  1. Before uploading employee data via CSV
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  2. If imports fail despite valid data
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  3. When switching between Excel and Google Sheets
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  4. If date fields appear empty or incorrect in flowit
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Why it matters

  • Prevents upload failures
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  • Ensures accurate calculation of age and employment dates
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  • Creates a reliable data foundation for reviews and reports
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How to adjust the date format

Excel

  1. Select the column with date values


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  2. Right-click → Format Cells
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  3. Choose “Date”


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  4. Change locale from German to English
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  5. Select the first format (Year–Month–Day)


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  6. Save (click "OK")
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Google Sheets

  1. Select the date column


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  2. Open “Format”
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  3. Choose “Number”
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  4. Click “Custom date and time”


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  5. Enter: yyyy-mm-dd


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  6. Apply
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🔍 Unable to change the format?

If you're trying to adjust the date format but the cells don't change, the problem is likely that your cells are saved as text – and not as a real date.

How to tell the difference:

  • Date (correct): The cell behaves like a number – you can calculate with it, and changing the format takes effect immediately.

  • Text (problem): The cell doesn't change after a format adjustment. The value is often left-aligned and may show a small green triangle in the corner (Excel). flowit cannot read this value as a date.

If the value is text – here's how to fix it:

In Excel:

  1. Select the affected cells

  2. Go to „Data" → „Text to Columns"

  3. Click „Finish" directly (no changes needed)

  4. Excel converts the text values to real dates

  5. Re-apply the yyyy-mm-dd format (see instructions above)

Alternative (Excel & Google Sheets): Use the formula =DATEVALUE(A2) to convert text into a real date. Then copy the result and paste as „Values only".
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If it's already a real date:

Then the issue lies elsewhere. Please reach out to our Customer Success Team – we're happy to help.

👉 Contact Customer Success

✅ Recommended action

  • Always check date formats before uploading CSV files
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  • Use yyyy-mm-dd consistently in all relevant columns
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  • Test the upload with a small file (5–10 records)
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  • Document the procedure internally for recurring uploads

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