Import Joomla Users from Excel or CSV File

Migrate users with custom data fields, Contacts component is supported

Main features of user import:

• Creates only new users, update existing users or does both actions at once.
• Specific columns order in file not required.
• Allows you to import users into one or a few Joomla groups.
• Gives possibility to set new password for users (plain or already encrypted one).
• If a file doesn’t contain passwords, import can create passwords automatically.
• Sends "Welcome" emails to imported users with login/pass and other info, read more.
• "Email Sending Report" is available, so you can check if emails were sent to users.
• Allows you to store import settings into "Profile" for regular import, read more.
• Makes it possible to block users automatically which are no longer exist in Excel/CSV file.
• Grants access to import extension to specific Joomla groups.
• Imports multiple checkbox values.
• Provides auto users import by schedule (using Cron).
• Imports into "Improved AJAX Import & Register" extension fields.
• Supports most of the third party components like "K2" or "AcyMailing".

What people say about import extension:

"I just love it! This Import tool is fast and successfully managed to import all my clients from file into my new Joomla. First I thought I would have to hire a developer to help me but this great extension made it happen without any extra help. I extremely recommend it!!!"
Tim, Blogger, United Kingdom

"Each day our CRM system generates Excel file with hundreds of clients in it.
Before, I used to hire a student who helped me to synchronize users between new excel and our Joomla.
But thanks to this extension, import process can be setup just once and import works automatically.
This extension saved me a lot of time and money". Spencer, CEO, France

"I spent a day on research and found a few extensions which can import users from files.
But most of them are difficult and the interfaces are not so user friendly. So only technical persons can use them.
This is the only one with a nice looking and friendly UI, so I can finally show it to my, not-so-technically-savvy, clients."
Edna, Web-Developer, USA

Next

Difference between "Contacts" fields and "Joomla Users Fields".

"Contacts" is a preinstalled Joomla component that allows you to store additional information about a person and link it to a particular Joomla user.
To create new "Contact" navigate to: Admin panel -> Components -> Contacts and press "New" button. This component contains non-customizable predefined list of fields. However it allows you to create two or more Contacts per each user.

Our import extension supports "Contacts" component and can import data from excel/csv files into these fields. Our extension creates Joomla users first, then creates "Contacts" and links them to associated users.

Joomla User Fields supported by Joomla 3.7 and later. These fields have a huge advantage compared to "Contacts". You can add/remove/customize "Joomla Users Fields" as much as you need. The wide range of available fields include: text, dropdown, link, check box, radio box and much more. You can find these fields in Admin panel->Users->Fields:

On the screenshot you can see that four fields have been created, three regular text fields (Skype, Tax Id and Position) and one dropdown field with car models. These fields are available in the admin panel and in the user's account on the website, so admin and user can read and change this data.

Conclusion: "Contacts" component is a good way to store additional information about the user. You can store two or more Contacts per user. However it is not possible to create additional user fields that might be vital in some cases. If you are looking for a way to store user data which is not predefined in "Contacts" then it is better to start with new "Joomla User Fields".

Import "Profiles" for regular use.

"Profile" is like a template with stored import settings. It was developed to save your time by setting up import settings once instead of doing this for each import.

Let's see how to set it up. For example, we've got a file with users from a third-party website and we need to create accounts for those users in our Joomla website. Since we must update users every week - it's better to use "Profiles" feature.

How to create "Profile":
1. Upload excel/CSV file.
2. Select Joomla group, match file's columns with user fields and specify other settings you may need.
3. Click on "SAVE PROFILE" button and give "Profile" a name. That's it, a new "Profile" has been created.

How to use "Profiles":
1. Start a new import. On step 1 you will see recently created profile. Click on upload button and select excel/CSV file.
2. Click "Next" and on step 2 all settings we’ve chosen before are already pulled up from "Profile" and automatically applied. So we only need to check if everything is okay and go to the next step.

Here is some useful cases when "Profile" feature comes in handy:
- file with users information has to be imported regularly, e.g. each day or week;
- you have two or more different excel/CSV files and each file has its own columns’ order;
- you need to import all users from file #1 into e.g. "Managers" group and users from file #2 into "Editors" group.

That's all you need to know to start saving time now!

Sending emails to imported and/or updated users.

“Import Users” tool provides option to notify new and/or existing users. With this option you can send personalized messages along with users' data like Name, Address, Password, etc.

In the example, we’ll show how to set up email sending to newly imported users. Since the user mailing is turned off by default, let’s enable it by the following steps:

1. Go to 2nd step.

2. In "Email Settings" select "Notify..." options.

3. Write email message.

“Import Users” offers two types of variables:

• “Default” – predefined variables list that includes commonly used variables, like Name, Username, Website;
• “Dynamic” – they pull values from imported file on the fly.

You can use “Default” & “Dynamic” variables in the "Email Template" popup. Both types of variables can be put into email “Subject” and email “Body”. Using of "Default" variables is easy, just place in editor listed variables like %username% and it will be replaced with the real username.

Data for "Dynamic" variables are taken from uploaded excel or csv file. So, to use these variables it's required to have already matched columns to Joomla fields. For example if we match “Name”, “Username”, “Email”, “Address”, “Country” and “Postal code” on step 2 we will be able to use these variable in Email Template popup.

Then click at "Add Fields" button and we'll see dynamic variables of matched columns. To insert any of the above variables, just click on it. If list of variables is empty, that means that columns from the file haven’t been matched with Joomla fields, so match the columns first.

In case you want to use custom text colors, insert images or change sizes, please use “Source Code”. With it you can change HTML the way you need. To turn it on, go to “Tools” - > “Source Code”:

After finishing configuration of email template click “Save”.

In case you want to email the existing users as well, enable “Notify existing users” option and set it up as before.