How to import CSV files in RedwoodJS

How to Import CSV Files in RedwoodJS (Using CSVBox)

Need to enable CSV upload or spreadsheet imports in your RedwoodJS app? While RedwoodJS offers a modern full-stack JavaScript framework with React, GraphQL, and Prisma, it doesn’t provide built-in tools for handling CSV imports—and that’s where CSVBox becomes a game-changer.

This guide walks developers through integrating a full-featured CSV uploader using CSVBox so teams can safely and efficiently import structured data.

Who Is This For?

This guide is ideal for:

Developers building internal tools or SaaS apps with RedwoodJS
Engineers needing to support spreadsheet data uploads from non-technical users
Teams that require CSV import UX and robust backend data validation

If you’ve ever asked:

“How do I upload a CSV file in a RedwoodJS app?”
“How can users easily import spreadsheets into my frontend?”
“What’s the best way to handle CSV imports in a serverless JAMstack project?”

You’re in the right place.

Why RedwoodJS Needs an External CSV Import Tool

RedwoodJS provides a top-tier developer experience with features like:

Prisma integration for data persistence
Codegen GraphQL APIs
Fast dev cycles with File-based Routing

But when it comes to uploading and processing CSV files, developers often encounter blockers like:

Validating file contents and schema
Dynamically mapping header fields
Dealing with async processing and webhooks
Ensuring a user-friendly import UX

🔧 Solution: CSVBox — a drop-in embeddable CSV uploader that handles the heavy lifting: header mapping, validation, file parsing, and serverless-friendly data delivery.

Overview: RedwoodJS CSV Import Workflow

Here’s the high-level approach to importing CSVs into your Redwood app with CSVBox:

Create a form in CSVBox defining expected fields and validation
Embed the CSVBox upload widget in your frontend
Receive imported data using a webhook or client callback
Store validated data via Prisma in your backend

Let’s break it down step-by-step.

✅ Prerequisites

Before starting:

You have a working RedwoodJS project
You’ve signed up at CSVBox.io
You’ve created a form that defines what your imported CSV should include
You’ve configured Prisma models (e.g., User) to persist data

🛠 Step-by-Step Integration Guide

1. Set Up Your CSVBox Form

In your CSVBox dashboard:

Click “New Import Form”
Define fields like name, email, and age
Set validations (e.g., required, email format, min/max)
Add your webhook URL for post-import processing (e.g., a Redwood function)

📎 Keep track of:

Your Client Key
Form ID

2. Install CSVBox Uploader Script

In Redwood, you’ll load the CSVBox frontend SDK once globally. Add the following script tag to your app’s layout, usually in:

📄 web/src/layouts/MainLayout/MainLayout.tsx

<head>
  <script src="https://js.csvbox.io" async defer></script>
</head>

This ensures the widget is available on all pages that need it.

3. Generate a New Upload Page

Use Redwood’s page generator:

yarn rw generate page CsvImport

Then edit:

📄 web/src/pages/CsvImportPage/CsvImportPage.tsx

import { useEffect } from 'react'

const CsvImportPage = () => {
  useEffect(() => {
    if (window.CSVBox) {
      const inbox = new window.CSVBox('YOUR_CLIENT_KEY')

      inbox.launch({
        formId: 'YOUR_FORM_ID',
        user: {
          userId: 'user-abc',
          userName: 'Jane Developer',
          userEmail: '[email protected]',
        },
        onData: (data) => {
          console.log('Import completed:', data)
          // Optional: send data via GraphQL mutation
        },
      })
    }
  }, [])

  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Import Spreadsheet Data</h2>
      <button onClick={() => window?.CSVBox?.open()}>Launch Import Wizard</button>
    </div>
  )
}

export default CsvImportPage

👉 Tip: Use onData() if you prefer client-side logic; otherwise trigger processing via webhook.

4. Processing Data with a Webhook Function (Recommended)

Redwood supports serverless functions for handling external POST events—perfect for receiving CSVBox uploads.

Run:

yarn rw generate function csvImportHandler

Then add this logic:

📄 api/src/functions/csvImportHandler/csvImportHandler.ts

import { db } from 'src/lib/db'

export const handler = async (event) => {
  if (event.httpMethod !== 'POST') {
    return { statusCode: 405, body: 'Method Not Allowed' }
  }

  const { data: records } = JSON.parse(event.body || '{}')

  try {
    for (const record of records) {
      await db.user.create({
        data: {
          name: record.name,
          email: record.email,
          age: Number(record.age),
        },
      })
    }

    return { statusCode: 200, body: 'Import successful' }
  } catch (error) {
    return { statusCode: 500, body: `Error: ${error.message}` }
  }
}

Then set your CSVBox form’s webhook to:

https://your-app.com/.redwood/functions/csvImportHandler

You’re now set up to receive structured spreadsheet data server-side.

✅ Alternative: Handle Data in Frontend via GraphQL

Not using webhooks? Call your GraphQL mutation from onData() directly inside the import page:

onData: async (data) => {
  await createUsers({ variables: { input: data } })
}

This works best for trusted in-browser imports without external services.

🧪 Testing and Troubleshooting CSV Uploads

Things not working? Here are common issues and quick remedies:

Issue	Possible Fix
CSVBox widget doesn’t appear	Ensure the script is loaded globally
No `onData` firing	Verify that form ID and client key are correct
Webhook errors in console	Check function logs in deployment
CORS error on webhook	Configure CORS headers or use deployed endpoint
Schema mismatches, bad data	Use CSVBox Validator UI and add fallback type parsing

Use the CSVBox Testing Tool before going live.

🔍 Why Use CSVBox for Spreadsheet Uploads?

Here’s what CSVBox handles out-of-the-box:

✅ Drag-and-drop friendly upload UI
✅ Header mapping and field validation
✅ Shows import progress and parsing errors
✅ Async webhook delivery with retries
✅ Admin analytics and monitoring options

CSVBox eliminates the need for:

Writing spreadsheet parsers in your backend
Handling malformed CSVs or inconsistent schemas
Building custom frontends for spreadsheet upload

“CSVBox makes importing data—from users or internal teams—safe, fast, and user-friendly.”

🚀 Next Steps and Enhancements

With import working end-to-end, consider building on top:

🔐 Add role-based authorization for who can import data
📊 Display import history or job status per user
🧠 Add custom validation rules in CSVBox for your business logic
🤝 Handle external data vendors by inviting them to your CSVBox portal

✅ Keywords and Topics Covered

CSV import in RedwoodJS apps
RedwoodJS file upload with serverless functions
How to add a spreadsheet uploader to a web app
Using CSVBox with GraphQL-based frontend
JAMstack CSV processing strategy
Importing internal tool data with Prisma

By embedding CSV import functionality seamlessly into your RedwoodJS stack, you give users a smooth way to upload structured spreadsheet data—whether they’re managing contacts, syncing product lists, or ingesting CRM exports.

Happy importing!

How to import CSV files in RedwoodJS