Batch updating lets you update many items at once using a spreadsheet, instead of editing them one by one. This overview explains how batch updating works and the steps involved. For step-by-step instructions, see the how-to guides linked at the bottom.
The three steps
A batch update follows three steps: export, edit, and import.
- Export — download a CSV file from any listing, or your Library as a whole, which you can open for editing. You select which fields to include.
- Edit — open the CSV in Excel, Google Sheets, or your preferred spreadsheet application and change values in the editable fields.
- Import — upload the edited CSV. Each row is matched by ID and updates are applied to the corresponding items in the Library. Any editable fields present in the CSV are updated.
Export and import are separate actions with separate menu options.
When editing, you can delete or rearrange columns as you need. The only column you must keep is the ID, which matches your imported CSV back to items in the the Library.
Who can export and import
All members of your team can export a CSV from the Library and any Collection they have access to.
Import is available to Content Managers and Administrators only.
What you can edit
Not every field in the CSV is editable. Fields are split into two groups:
- Editable fields — these are updated in items when you import. For model categories and documentation, this includes Name and Description. For materials, it also includes Class, Keynote, Mark, and Reference URLs (Manufacturer and Documentation).
- Non-editable fields — included for reference only. Values in these columns are ignored during import. Examples include Category and Revit Version.
For the complete list of fields and some specific formatting rules, see Batch updating — Reference.
Where you can export from
You can export from several places. For listing pages, the export reflects what you’re currently looking at — active filters and search terms are kept, so only the visible content is exported.
- Library — exports items or materials in your Library (excluding Collections).
- Listing page (for example, a List, material class, or category) — exports the items or materials shown in that view.
- Collection — exports only the items or materials in that Collection.
How importing works
You can import a CSV from any listing view, or from the Batch Updates page. The listing doesn’t need to match the items in your CSV. Each row’s ID is matched against items and materials in your Library and Collections, and the corresponding Library item is updated wherever it lives.
Import updates items in the Library and Collections only. It does not affect projects or models.
When changes overlap
The CSV import updates values for any editable fields present in the file.
It is recommended you use a recently exported CSV for batch updates. Old values in a CSV file exported weeks or months ago will overwrite changes anyone made manually in the meantime.
If two team members import CSVs containing overlapping items, the later import will be kept.
It’s worth coordinating with your team when multiple team members are working on the same content.
The Batch Updates page
Every import you run appears on the Batch Updates page, accessible from Batch Updates in the Library’s Utilities section. This page displays the name of each imported CSV along with its current status — whether it’s still In Queue, Processing, has Completed, Failed, or resulted in No Updates.
Click on any import to see a summary, including who ran it, how many items were updated, and any errors encountered.
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