Channel Import

  • Updated

This article is written for: Zello Work Zello Friends & Family.

Zello Work admins can simultaneously manage numerous network channels using Zello's Channel Import tool. This method allow multiple channels to be created or edited at once through the import of a .csv file in the management console. 

Channel import is beneficial tool for admins who want to: 

  • Bulk-edit their existing channels
  • Bulk-assign user roles or tags
  • Significantly grow their network by creating multiple new channels at once
  • Rapidly or change your network with ease

How to Use

Channels can be imported in one of two ways: 

Method When and How to Use
Exporting your existing channels' data, editing that data if necessary, then importing it back into the management console.

You may opt for this method if you'd like to edit a large number of existing channels using their current configurations as a template. (For example, if you'd like to add user roles or tags to multiple channels.)
Editing a fresh .csv template

You may opt for this method if you're creating a large number of new channels. To edit a fresh template, go to Channels>Import Channels>Download a CSV template. Skip the Exporting Channels section below.

Steps to import channels include: 

1. Export channels (if applicable)
2. Edit the .csv template (and create user roles, if applicable to your network)
3. Import channels

Exporting Channels

1. Sign in to the management console at yournetworkname.zellowork.com and click the Channels tab. 

channels tab.png

2. Select Export channels from the top-right corner of your screen. This will download a .zip file that lists all of your current channels.

export channels.png

3. From your device's downloads folder, find the .csv file titled yourchannelname_channels_export_year_month_day_time.csv. 
channel export.png

4. If you'd like to edit the template before its import—i.e. if you'd like to edit the current configuration of channels or add additional channels to your network— follow the instructions in the Editing the Template section before proceeding to the Importing Channels section.

Editing the template

The headers on the .csv file should be the same, regardless if you've exported your .csv or edited a blank template. Headers will include:

  • name*
  • type*
  • tags
  • default_channel
  • emergency_channel
  • delete**
  • roles

*The only required columns are name and type. If name and type aren't included, the channel's creation will fail. However, if you're updating an existing channel and leave the type field blank, the channel type will remain the same as it was prior to import. 

**If you enter a value of "1" in a channel's delete column, that channel will be deleted from your network. If you don't wish to delete a channel, leave this column blank.

NOTE: Columns must have the exact header names listed above, but they can be arranged in any order. If you are importing a channel with a set of tags, separate the tags using semi-colons. 

Creating User Roles 

Zello's import tool allows admins to easily assign user roles. To do so, add any of the following parameters to the roles column of your channel import .csv: 

Speaks_to

Defines the users who will receive messages from users in this role. The parameter can be defined as one of the following: 

  • anyone: users in this role will be able to send messages to all users in the channel 
  • users_without_roles: this role can send messages to users without an assigned role.
  • selected_roles: this role can speak to another assigned role—for example, Dispatcher. If you want the users in this role to speak to multiple other roles, list all separated by a comma(s). User roles that are created at the same time can be assigned to talk to each other. 
  • listen_only: this role cannot send messages. They can only listen to other messages. 
Priority High, normal, or low. Higher priority users will be able to interrupt any voice message from a lower priority user. Learn more here. 
Disconnects On or off. Choose whether or not to allow users in this role to disconnect from the channel. Learn more here. 
Alerts On or off. Choose whether or not to allow users in this role to send channel-wide alerts. Learn more here.

The only field required field when assigning user roles is speaks_to. All other parameters are optional. 

The correct formatting for user role creation using the channel import feature is as follows: 

  • Separate distinct roles using a semicolon ;
  • Define parameters using parentheses ( )
  • Capture all parameters for a single role within curly brackets { }
  • Separate parameters within each user role with commas ,

Example: Dispatchers{speaks_to(anyone),priority(high),disconnects(on),alerts(on)};Drivers{speaks_to(Dispatchers),priority(high),disconnects(off),alerts(off)}

Importing Channels 

1. When you're happy with your channel configurations, click Import channels. 

channel import.png

2. Scroll to the bottom of the import page and select Choose a file. Select the .csv file with your desired configurations and
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3. When the file's name appears in the blue button, click the green Preview button. A screen that details the number of records found, number of channels to be updated, and number of emergency channels to be updated will appear. the data looks correct, click Import. 
records found.png

Note: If you reach this point and would like to edit the file, re-open the .csv, make and save your changes, then press Choose another file to re-upload it. 

4. Once you click the Import button, all changes will automatically begin syncing to your network. Changes will take effect as soon as the import completes, but please note the process may take a while if you're configuring a large number of channels.

The status screen will notify you of progress, including when the updates are complete. 

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