How do I test my import file before uploading it in Tilt?

Quick answer

Before you import a CSV for real, run a test upload so no data is saved until your file is error-free. Go to Org Settings > Uploads, click Upload File, choose your document type (Employee Profile Import or Employee Pay History Import), check the box to Test your file before uploading (no data will be saved), attach your file, and click Run Test. A successful test shows "(TEST) No data was saved — X rows processed successfully" with 0 rows failed.

Who this applies to / Prerequisites

You must be an HR user in Tilt.
Your file must be saved as a .csv. Tilt does not accept .xlsx or other file types.
Your column headers must match Tilt's template exactly (including asterisks) and stay in the template's order.
For pay history imports, employee profiles must already exist in Tilt before you test a pay history file.

Steps

Navigate to your HR Dashboard.
Click Org Settings in the left navigation panel.
Click the Uploads tab.
Click the Upload File button.
In the upload modal, select your document type — Employee Profile Import or Employee Pay History Import.
Check the box to Test your file before uploading (no data will be saved), then attach your file.
Click Run Test. Your test upload appears as a row in the uploads table, initially marked as waiting for processing.
Check back on the Uploads page once testing completes. Success looks like: "(TEST) No data was saved — X rows processed successfully" with 0 rows failed.
If any rows failed, download the import error log, fix your file, and test again before uploading for real.

What if it doesn't work

Rows failed with header errors: Your column headers don't match Tilt's template exactly, or the columns are out of order. Compare your file against the template (including asterisks) and correct any differences.
Rows failed with date errors: All dates must be in YYYY-MM-DD format.
Pay history rows failed for an employee not found in Tilt: The employee's profile doesn't exist yet, or the work email doesn't match their Tilt profile. Import or correct the profile first, then test the pay history file again.
The file won't run at all: The file is not a .csv. Re-save it as .csv and try again.

Limits and exceptions

Testing saves no data. A passed test does not import anything — you still have to run the real upload afterward.
Only .csv files can be tested. Excel (.xlsx) and other formats will not process.
You must be an HR user to test a file.
Column headers must match Tilt's template exactly, or rows will fail.

How do I test my import file before uploading it in Tilt?

Catch errors before they count — test your CSV, fix any failed rows, then run the real upload.