Import songs

Overview

Import brings the music you already have into your library. Importing only adds new songs. It never changes or overwrites what is already there, and your latest import can be rolled back.

Importing is a web feature. In a browser, open Import from the library actions menu on the Songs page, or go to /import. Songs you import appear in the iPhone and iPad app as soon as it syncs.

What you can import

• ChordPro files with the extensions .cho, .crd, .chordpro, or .txt
• App exports such as OnSong or SongBook Pro text
• Spreadsheets as CSV, one row per song
• PDFs and other source files, kept as originals and linked to the matching song by title

You can also paste chart text directly instead of uploading a file.

Step 1: Add music

Upload files, paste text, or try a sample. Akordo detects the format automatically. If it guesses wrong, use the format pills to choose ChordPro, CSV, or App text.

Check the Import to destination before you continue. It defaults to the library you are currently viewing, either your personal library or a group. Importing into a group requires the Can edit role.

Spreadsheets

For CSV files, the Column mapping panel lets you map your columns to song fields: Title, Artist, Key, Capo, Tempo, Time signature, Duration, Labels, Setlist, Set order, Notes, and Chart text. One mapping applies to every spreadsheet in the import. Rows with a Setlist value create a new setlist with that name as part of the import, even if a setlist with the same name already exists.

Music providers

The Import from a music provider section gives guidance for Planning Center CSV exports and for ChordPro or resource files from SongSelect, PraiseCharts, MultiTracks, and RehearsalMix. Akordo does not connect to these services. Upload only exports and files your organization is entitled to use.

Step 2: Review

Preview import shows every song Akordo found, with its key, capo, tempo, setlists, and source files. Uncheck anything you do not want. Duplicates of songs already in the destination are flagged, and Skip duplicates leaves them out. A Needs attention panel lists warnings such as unknown directives or missing titles.

Step 3: Done

The receipt shows the destination, songs added, setlists created, and files kept. Choose View songs to open the library or Import more to start again.

Rolling back

Your most recent import can be undone from its receipt with Roll back this import. Rolling back removes the songs, setlists, and files that import added and nothing else. The receipt is kept in this browser until you run another import, so roll back promptly if you need to. If some imported items were edited or removed in the meantime, the rollback reports what it could not undo.

Source snapshots

ChordPro and app-export files that became songs, and PDFs matched to a song by title, stay attached to that song. Open the song's details panel to see its Source Snapshots, download the original, and see whether it was converted into the chart or kept only as an attachment. Spreadsheet rows are not attached to songs, and source files that matched no song are kept with the import for 90 days rather than on a song.

After importing

Standard ChordPro directives that Akordo does not support are kept in the chart text but ignored when rendering, and the review step lists them under Needs attention. Open imported songs in Source mode to tidy them up. See the ChordPro syntax reference for what is supported.

If you use an AI assistant connected through MCP, the import batch tools can list duplicates, metadata gaps, and unknown directives after a large import and propose fixes. See AI assistants.

Next steps

• Songs to tidy up imported charts
• Setlists to organize what you brought in
• ChordPro syntax reference