Import your spreadsheet into Despendo with a CSV file
How to move your inventory from Excel or Google Sheets into Despendo in minutes with a CSV file: which columns are recognized, date and unit formats, what happens with duplicates and a free template.
Many people start their inventory in a spreadsheet, and it works. The problem comes later: nobody warns you when something is about to expire, it is hard to work out how many days of food you have, and typing every product again into a new app is a chore. That is why Despendo can import your sheet from a CSV file, with nothing to retype.
Step by step
- Save your sheet as CSV. In Excel: File > Save As > CSV UTF-8 (comma delimited). In Google Sheets: File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv).
- In Despendo, open the Pantry tab and tap the + button. Choose Import from CSV.
- Choose your file. It is read in your browser: nothing is saved or sent until you confirm.
- Check the preview. You will see the first rows, how many will be imported and any warnings, such as a date that was not understood.
- Press Import. The products appear on your shelves.
If you would rather start from a ready-made template, download the free pantry and 72-hour kit template: an Excel sheet with expiration warnings and a CSV file ready to import.
Which columns it recognizes
Only one is required: product. The rest is optional, and several names are accepted for each column.
| Column | Names it accepts | If it is missing |
|---|---|---|
| Product | product, name, item, producto | Required |
| Quantity | quantity, qty, cantidad | 0 is used |
| Unit | unit, unidad | "unit" is used |
| Expiration | expiration, expiry, vencimiento | No date |
| Category | category, categoría | Goes to "Other" |
| Shelf | shelf, location, estante | Goes to its category's shelf |
| Minimum | minimum, min | 0 |
| Calories per unit | calories, kcal | Estimated for known foods |
| Notes | notes, brand | Empty |
Formats it understands
- Dates: 2027-12-31, 31/12/2027 and 31-12-27. Excel's numeric dates too.
- Quantities: comma or period as the decimal mark, so 2,5 and 2.5 are the same.
- Units: kg, g, lb, l, ml, unit, pack, can, jar, bottle, bag, box and packet, singular, plural and in Spanish.
- Categories: Despendo's 17, in English or Spanish. Anything it does not recognize goes to "Other" and you get a warning.
- Separators: comma, semicolon or tab, and accents in UTF-8 or Windows. The titles can be in any of the first 8 rows.
What happens with shelves and duplicates
- If a row has a shelf, that shelf is used; if it does not exist, it is created. If not, it looks for the shelf of its category or creates one with that name.
- If the shelf already has a fixed category, the product takes that category and you are told. That is what we explain in shelves and categories.
- Products that already exist on the same shelf are skipped by default (you can untick that).
Limits and care
- Up to 300 rows per import. If your sheet is bigger, repeat with the rest.
- The importer does not overwrite what you already have: it only adds.
- Calories per unit are estimated only for known foods; otherwise they stay at 0 and you can ask for the AI estimate from the product itself. How they enter the math is in how days of food are calculated.
- If your app is locked with a PIN, unlock it first.
Comparing apps before you decide? See the comparison of pantry and 72-hour kit apps.
Get the free 72-hour kit checklist
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