Import client tags in bulk by submitting a formatted Excel file to Canopy's Data Migration Team for upload to your account.
Why it matters: Manually tagging hundreds of client records one by one isn't realistic before go-live. A tags import lets you bring your entire tag structure into Canopy at once, so your client list is organized from day one.
Table of Contents
Before You Start
Two rules govern how tag imports work — read these before building your file.
📝 Note: Tags are replaced, not added. Whatever is on your import file becomes the tag list in Canopy. If you want to keep any existing tags, include them in the file alongside your new ones.
📝 Note: Client names must match those in Canopy exactly. The import uses client names to match tags to records. Spelling, capitalization, and spacing all have to align with what's in Canopy.
Download your Client List from Canopy:
Go to Clients > Client List.
Remove all filters.
Click the three-dot menu next to Add Client.
Select Export filtered list.
Save this file — you'll use it to verify client names in the next section.
Create and Format Your Tags Import
Open a new spreadsheet in Excel, Google Sheets, or your preferred tool.
Create two columns with these exact headers: display_name and tags.
Headers are case-sensitive — use lowercase with an underscore exactly as shown.
In the display_name column, enter each client's name exactly as it appears in Canopy.
Copy directly from your exported client list to avoid typos.
In the tags column, enter all tags for that client in a single cell, separated by commas.
Example: tax planning, 1099, high priority
Check that the same tag is spelled consistently across all client rows.
Each tag has a 25-character limit.
Save the file in CSV format (.csv).
Upload Your Tags Import File
Use the secure upload link sent by your Data Migration Specialist to send us your completed Tags Import file. Your Migration Specialist will review your file, clean as needed, and potentially reach out to you for additional clarification.
Once reviewed and corrected as-needed, your Data Migration Specialist will handle the import and notify you when it's complete.
Verify Tags Are Linked to Clients
Go to Clients > Client List.
On the left side, click the three vertical lines (menu icon).
Select Customize Client List.
Check the box next to Tags under Firm Attributes.
Select Done.
You'll now see a view of your clients with their tags displayed. Review this to confirm tags are mapped to the right clients and that nothing was missed.
Summary
This article covered how to prepare and submit a CSV file for a bulk tag import into Canopy. Format your file with display_name and tags columns, submit it via the secure upload link, and Canopy's Data Migration Team will complete the import and notify you to review.
Need help?
Contact Support or ask Penny, our AI Support Bot, for assistance.