Hi All, I have a custom list in SharePoint. I have an excel spreadsheet with the data for that list. What is the right and the best way toimport data into the custom list? Thanks

Why don't you create the List by using the Import Spreadsheet option avilable under Create->Custom Lists? If you want to add to a existing list then Edit in Datasheet option under Actions. Thanks

Not a programming question so in the wrong forum. Moving to Admin.

Sorry Mike. I should have said "importing" instead of exporting. Can you please move the post back to programming? I need to import data from excel spreadsheet into custom list and the spreadsheet has over 20,000 items and I needan efficient way to import data. Excel Services? Thanks!

Just once, or repeatedly on some sort of schedule? If it's just a one time deal, I would avoid and coding. Perhaps just copying and pasting from excel into a view in datasheet mode? Or, if you need something a little more dynamic, just go through Access 2007, which can export data to a sharepoint list. Mike G.

Mike - The data is already there in Excel 2007 and it isa one time deal. I tried to edit in the datasheet view, it says that "Selected cell is read only". I am the owner of the SharePoint site and I do have Full Control on the list. I do not know why it gives me thaterror. THe content in that list does not require approval either.

Did you use a list or a document library when you setup the list in the sharepoint site? I have seen the datasheet view readonly when it is a document library.

John - It is a list and not a document library. It is interesting to note that columns of type "Multiple lines of text" are read-only; I am able to edit columns of other types.

That kind of makes sense. My guess is that the datasheet view can only support certain types of fields and probably disables input on other types (multiple lines, Rich text, ...). You might be able to use the export functionality of Access 2007 or Excel 2007 to upload the data to a SharePoint list.

Hmm. I've been able to paste into a multiple line textbox. Just checking, are you sure you're not trying to paste into the id field? (or any calculated field?)

The answer tothe multi-linepaste issueis to change the field type from a formatted field to a Text Only Multi-line field. Once the text is in the record, change it back to a formatted field once the data has been pasted in.It works great.

The only possible problem with this solution is that in my experience copying contents from Multi-line fields is possible only on a cell-by-cell basis not in bulk for a number of cells.Maybe that doesn't matter here as you are pasting IN (?)WSS FAQ sites: WSS 2.0: http://wssv2faq.mindsharp.com WSS 3.0 and MOSS 2007: http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com Total list of WSS 3.0 and MOSS 2007 Books (including foreign language titles) http://wss.asaris.de/sites/walsh/Lists/WSSv3%20FAQ/V%20Books.aspx

I was getting the same error. See if my solution can help at: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/sharepointdevelopment/thread/364150a5-784b-4095-bbbf-5d1bc8232c99 (look for my user name: Namwam)