> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dialgen.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# CSV Upload Format
> Learn how to format your CSV file for batch calling uploads.
## CSV File Format
Your CSV file must follow these rules for successful batch calling:
***
## Rule 1: Use E.164 Phone Format
All phone numbers must include the country prefix in E.164 format (e.g., `+11231237890`).
**❌ Wrong:**
```
1231237890
0091234567890
(123) 123-7890
```
**✅ Correct:**
```
+11231237890
+919123456789
+44 2100000000
```
E.164 is the international standard for phone numbers. It includes:
* Plus sign (+)
* Country code (1-3 digits)
* Area code and number (up to 14 digits total)
***
## Rule 2: Use contact\_number Header
The phone number column header must be exactly `contact_number`.
**❌ Wrong:**
```
phone,name,email
+11231237890,John,john@example.com
```
**✅ Correct:**
```
contact_number,name,email
+11231237890,John,john@example.com
```
***
## Rule 3: Add Custom Variables
Include any additional variables (name, email, company, etc.) as separate columns. These are passed to your agent as context.
**Example with custom variables:**
```
contact_number,first_name,last_name,company,email
+11231237890,Bruce,Wayne,Wayne Enterprises,bruce@wayne.com
+919123456789,Bruce,Lee,Martial Arts Inc,bruce@lee.com
+00021000000,Satoshi,Nakamoto,Bitcoin,satoshi@nakamoto.com
+44999999987,James,Bond,MI6,james@bond.com
```
***
## Complete Example
```csv theme={null}
contact_number,first_name,last_name,company,email
+11231237890,John,Doe,Acme Corp,john@acme.com
+12025550123,Jane,Smith,Tech Solutions,jane@tech.com
+919876543210,Raj,Kumar,India Services,raj@india.com
+441632960123,Alice,Johnson,UK Ventures,alice@uk.com
+33123456789,Pierre,Dupont,France Consulting,pierre@france.com
```
***
## Important Notes
### Excel Formula Warning
In Excel, if you type a cell starting with `+`, it may be interpreted as a formula. To prevent this:
1. Right-click the column
2. Select **Format Cells**
3. Choose **Text** format
4. Add an apostrophe before the plus: `'+11231237890`
The apostrophe won't appear in the final file, but it prevents Excel from treating it as a formula.
### Column Order
* Column order doesn't matter
* `contact_number` is the only required column
* All other columns are optional and become variables
### Variable Naming
* Use lowercase with underscores: `first_name`, `last_name`, `phone_ext`
* Avoid spaces and special characters
* Use clear, descriptive names
***
## Using Variables in Agent Prompts
Reference variables in your agent prompt using curly braces:
```text theme={null}
Hello {first_name}! I'm calling from {company} regarding your recent inquiry.
I have your email on file as {email}. Is that still the best way to reach you?
```
***
## Validation Checklist
Before uploading, verify:
* ✓ All phone numbers start with `+`
* ✓ All phone numbers are in E.164 format
* ✓ Header column is exactly `contact_number`
* ✓ No duplicate phone numbers
* ✓ No empty rows or columns
* ✓ CSV is UTF-8 encoded
* ✓ File size is under 50MB
***
## Common Issues
### "Invalid phone number format"
**Problem:** Phone numbers not in E.164 format
**Solution:** Add country code with `+` prefix
```
Before: 1234567890
After: +11234567890
```
### "contact\_number header not found"
**Problem:** Column header is misspelled
**Solution:** Make sure the header is exactly `contact_number` (lowercase, underscore)
```
Wrong: Contact Number, phone_number, Phone
Right: contact_number
```
### "Duplicate contact"
**Problem:** Same phone number appears multiple times
**Solution:** Remove duplicate rows or use different contact identifiers if needed
***
## Download Example
Download our example CSV file to use as a template:
```csv theme={null}
contact_number,first_name,last_name,company,email,lead_score
+11231237890,Bruce,Wayne,Wayne Enterprises,bruce@wayne.com,95
+919123456789,Bruce,Lee,Martial Arts Inc,bruce@lee.com,85
+00021000000,Satoshi,Nakamoto,Bitcoin,satoshi@nakamoto.com,90
+44999999987,James,Bond,MI6,james@bond.com,80
```
***
## Next Steps
JSON contact format for API calls
API reference for batch creation