Journalit

CSV Import

This CSV import setup guide shows how to bring broker exports, spreadsheets, supported HTML statements, and older trade journals into Journalit without rebuilding everything by hand.

Want a shorter overview page? See trade import for your Obsidian trading journal.

What CSV Import is really for

The goal is not just to ingest files. The goal is to convert messy trade exports into clean, structured Journalit records that work with Trade Log, reviews, accounts, and dashboards.

CSV Import Overview

CSV Import main interface showing file upload and adapter selection

Access CSV Import through the command palette with Ctrl+PImport Trades CSV, or from the Home View quick links.

Built-in adapters

Use broker-specific import logic when Journalit already knows the export format.

Manual mapping

Map custom CSV or Excel columns yourself when the broker is not built in.

AI-assisted mapping

Get a suggested mapping when the file structure is unfamiliar or inconsistent.

Template reuse

Save working mappings so you do not have to solve the same import problem twice.

Built-In Broker Adapters

If your broker or platform is already supported, use the adapter first. That is usually the fastest and safest path.

Best practice

If a built-in adapter exists for your platform, use that before reaching for manual mapping. The adapter usually handles broker-specific quirks you would otherwise need to rediscover yourself.

Import Process

The normal import flow is short when the export file is clean.

Export from your broker or platform

Create the CSV, XLSX, XLS, or supported HTML export from the source platform. If you are unsure where to find the correct export, check the Broker Export Guides.

Select the adapter or mapping mode

Adapter selection dropdown showing IBKR, Tradovate, TradeZero, and other import options

Upload the file and choose the matching broker adapter, manual mapping, or AI mapping path.

Review before importing

Import preview showing parsed trades with columns and validation status

Before confirming the import, verify trade count, dates, prices, P&L, validation warnings, and any broker-specific edge cases.

Import into Journalit

Once the preview looks correct, import the trades and let Journalit create the notes and metadata records.

Excel And XLSX Workflows

Journalit supports direct Excel imports and selected HTML statement workflows because many brokers and tools do not produce a clean CSV.

XLSX and XLS support

Useful when the source exporter is Excel-native or when the CSV output is unreliable.

Custom-field mapping

Map source columns directly into your own custom trade fields during import.

Embedded image extraction

Extract images from supported workbooks and review them before confirming the import.

Direct P&L and extra fees

Import final realised P&L and additional fee columns when price reconstruction is incomplete or unnecessary.

Direct P&L note

Manual direct P&L imports work without a quantity mapping. If your file has trustworthy final P&L but no quantity column, you can still import it.

Custom Fields Mapping

CSV import custom fields mapping interface showing source columns mapped to custom Journalit fields

Custom-field mapping is useful when your broker export contains context you want to preserve instead of retyping manually after the import.

Embedded Images From Excel

CSV import review screen showing embedded images extracted from an Excel workbook

If a workbook contains embedded images, Journalit can extract them during the review flow. Always confirm the image-to-trade alignment before importing.

Other Fees And Direct P&L

CSV import mapping screen showing other fees and direct PnL column assignments

Use this path when your export already contains authoritative final P&L or when broker fee breakdowns matter more than reconstructing every fill manually.

Manual Mapping

Manual mapping interface showing CSV columns on the left and Journalit fields on the right

Manual mapping is the fallback when a built-in adapter does not exist or the file format has drifted too far from the expected broker export.

Upload the file

Start with the CSV, XLSX, or XLS file you want to import.

Choose Manual Mapping

Select Manual Mapping instead of a broker adapter.

Map the source columns

Connect each source column to the corresponding Journalit field, including any custom trade fields or additional fee columns you want to preserve.

Handle format details

Adjust date, time, and number-format assumptions if the export uses something non-standard.

Preview and save the template

Review the parsed trades, then save the mapping if you expect to reuse the same format later.

Minimum data needed

Manual mapping needs enough information to build a valid trade. At minimum, you need symbol, entry timing, direction, and either full price/size data or a trustworthy direct P&L field.

Required trade identity

Symbol or ticker, entry date and time, and direction.

Calculation path

Either entry price + exit price + quantity, or a direct P&L field that you trust.

Convenience memory

Journalit remembers your recent broker and account selections to reduce repetitive setup.

AI-Powered Mapping

AI mapping interface showing automatically suggested field mappings with confidence information

AI mapping exists to reduce the pain of unfamiliar exports, not to replace your review judgement.

Upload the file and choose AI Mapping

Start the import and select AI Mapping.

Let the model suggest the mapping

Journalit analyses the column names and sample rows to infer likely field assignments.

Review the suggestion

Confirm that dates, prices, quantities, direction, fees, and P&L are mapped correctly before importing.

Save the working configuration

If the mapping is correct, save it as a reusable template for later imports.

Privacy note

AI mapping sends column headers and small samples for mapping help, not your full trade history. You should still review the result like any other import.

Template Sharing

Journalit Trade Templates let you reuse and share import configurations.

Save working mappings

Turn a successful manual or AI mapping into a reusable import template.

Export template codes

Generate a shareable template code after the mapping is working correctly.

Import someone else's template

Paste a shared template code and use it like another adapter in your list.

Duplicate Detection

Duplicate detection warning showing matched trades with skip and import options

Journalit tries to prevent imported trades from duplicating records that are already in your vault.

Smart matching

Duplicate detection uses trade attributes like entry timing, price, symbol, direction, and size.

Skip behaviour

Detected duplicates are skipped during import instead of being blindly recreated.

Import summary

The import result shows how many trades were treated as duplicates.

Import Reliability Improvements

Timezone-safe timestamps

Import parsing is designed to avoid quiet time shifts between the source file and the final note data.

Break-even consistency

Imported trades are classified in line with your Journalit break-even settings.

Adapter maintenance

Supported adapters continue to receive fixes for commission handling, symbols, and broker-specific quirks.

Troubleshooting And Support Reports

Need help?

Join the Discord community if you need import help or if a broker export has changed unexpectedly.

Bottom line

CSV Import is the migration path for getting existing trade history into Journalit without rebuilding it manually. Use built-in adapters when possible, fall back to manual or AI mapping when necessary, and save working templates so the problem only needs to be solved once.

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