We've made significant improvements to how you import data into Dust. Whether you're bringing in theme camp and art data from spreadsheets or syncing locations from Google Maps, the new import tools give you better visibility and control.
CSV Import Preview
The CSV import for theme camps and art now shows a detailed preview before you commit to changes. Items are grouped into three categories:
- New: Items that will be created
- Updated: Existing items with changed fields (shows exactly which fields changed)
- Existing: Items with no changes
This makes it easy to verify your import before applying it, and helps catch issues like duplicate entries or unexpected changes.
KML Import Preview
The KML import has been completely redesigned with a comprehensive preview system. When you import a KML file from Google Maps, you'll see:
- Location Changes: Camps or art with updated coordinates
- No Changes: Items where coordinates already matching what is in dust
- New or Mismatching Items: Placemarks that don't match existing records (eg Theme Camps that are not in dust yet, or whose names don't quite match)
- Items Not in File: Existing camps/art that are missing from the KML file
- Restrooms and Other Placemarks: Special pins like restrooms and shuttle stops
The preview helps you identify naming mismatches between Google Maps and Dust, so you can fix them before importing.
Better Error Handling
Both import tools now provide clear error messages when something goes wrong:
- File validation errors (empty files, invalid format)
- Coordinate parsing issues
You'll know exactly what needs to be fixed before you can proceed.
Smart Matching
The import system uses intelligent matching to connect your data:
- External IDs: Match by unique identifier for reliable updates
- Name matching: Case-insensitive with fuzzy matching for minor variations
- Handles variations: Ignores "Camp" prefixes, emojis, and special characters
Getting Started
Import options are available from the menu on the Camps and Art pages. For detailed instructions, check out the Art, Camps or Google Maps Import documentation.
We hope these improvements make managing your burn's data easier. Let us know what you think!