About Tab-Delimited File Tips

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A tab-delimited file is a text file that's set up with a tab separating each column of text. Mailchimp accepts these types of files for contact imports, and helps you map tabbed columns to a field in your audience.

Note

Before you export your file from a database application, take a look at their FAQs or support page for instructions on how to save as a tab-delimited file. It's a standard export format, but since every application is different, the steps will vary.

How it works

  • You can also export data as a tab-delimited file from most spreadsheet applications. Make sure your file ends with a “.txt” extension.
  • After you have a tab-delimited version of your audience, open it in a spreadsheet, like Microsoft Excel, to arrange and format your columns for import to Mailchimp. When you export the final, edited document from Excel, make sure to save it as a tab-delimited file again.

If you run into other problems with your import, check out these import troubleshooting tips.

Format Guidelines for Your Import File

Certain audience field types, like addresses and phone numbers, require a specific format. Learn about field types, and how to format them to work with Mailchimp.

Manage Audience and Signup Form Fields

Mailchimp stores your contact data in audience fields. Learn about field types, how to view this data, and how to add and delete fields.

Import Contacts to Mailchimp

Learn how to use our import tool to add or update contacts in Mailchimp.