How to Create a Custom Lead Loader Template in VICIdial

Building a custom lead loader template is a one-time setup that pays off on every future load. You hand VICIdial a sample file, tell it which column goes where, and save the result. From then on you just pick "Custom Template" and your records flow straight into the right fields. Here is how to make one.

Start from the template builder

On the lead loader screen, click the "template builder" link. Under "Create a new template," click the button to begin. The first real step is uploading a sample file that has the exact layout you want to capture. Choose the file, and the server takes a copy and processes it to detect the file type and, for text files, the delimiter.

Name it and pick a target list

Give the template an ID (between 2 and 20 characters, letters, numbers, and underscores), a name up to 30 characters, and an optional description up to 255. Then choose the List ID this template loads into. Every template must target a list, and only the lists your user account can see appear in the dropdown. Picking the list also pulls in any Custom field that list already has, so the template can map into them.

flowchart TD
  A[Open template builder] --> B[Upload small sample file]
  B --> C[Wait for full load]
  C --> D[Set ID, name, description]
  D --> E[Choose target List ID]
  E --> F[Map columns to fields]
  F --> G[SUBMIT TEMPLATE]
  G --> H[Reusable template saved]

Map the columns and submit

Once the sample finishes loading, the pulldown menus fill with the fields from your file's first row. Match each pulldown to the matching field in the same row, just like you would when defining a one-off custom layout. You do not have to map every field, and you do not have to fill every column. When the mapping looks right, click SUBMIT TEMPLATE to build and save it.

After that, your template appears in the "Custom template to use" dropdown whenever you set File Layout to "Custom Template." Each future Lead file in that format loads with no remapping. If you need to change the layout or remove it later, the maker also has EDIT TEMPLATE and DELETE TEMPLATE buttons.

• EDIT TEMPLATE loads the saved details so you can adjust the name, description, or layout.
• DELETE TEMPLATE removes it entirely.

A template makes every repeat import faster and far less error-prone, since you never line up columns by hand again. For how loading fits the bigger picture of feeding a Campaign, read the lists and leads guide, and the what is a VICIdial list article if the list itself is still new to you.

Every VICIfast dialer includes the template builder out of the box, ready under a minute after you sign up. See plans on our pricing page and save your first reusable layout today.