Generate certificates from spreadsheet data, automatically

How to create certificates from the spreadsheet?

You won't have to go through each credential separately – because, with Certifier certificate maker, you don't have to. Each recipient's unique details are automatically added to your certificate. Ready to see the instructions? Follow the steps below to create certificates using the spreadsheet (Google Sheets and Excel file included).

Step 1: Prepare the spreadsheet file

First, prepare the spreadsheet from which Certfier will take all the data needed to generate certificates. You don't need to create a new file or clean anything in your original spreadsheet. If you’re using Zoom/Microsoft Teams or LMS (Kajabi, Teachable, etc.), you can download recipients’ data directly from the tool without the need to create a spreadsheet from scratch.

Be sure to include all the essential information you want in your certificate. The two must-haves are recipient name and recipient email – these bits are crucial to automatically generate certificates and guarantee they get to the right person. When you're choosing which columns to use, think about what's going on in the certificate. Name and email are a given, but if you've got that extra data, like grades, make sure to include those columns too.

Save your spreadsheet in a format Certifier likes (CSV, XLS, or XLSX are all good to go).

Step 2: Prepare a certificate with dynamic attributes

This is how you make your data from the spreadsheet show up looking sharp on the certificate. Certifier provides dynamic attributes – the text box that allows you to insert personalized content to each certificate based on the data from the spreadsheet. Thanks to that, you can create one certificate template to generate multiple certificates with different names, grades, etc.

In Certifier, go to the Designs dashboard, create a new certificate design, choose a template, and go to the Attributes tab. From there, you can manage all your attributes – remove and add the ones you need. If you would like to add content other than the defaults, e.g., grade, you can do that via custom attributes. Click the “Add Custom Attribute” button.

Name the attribute and press “Create”.

Choose by clicking on the “Use” next to the right attribute or type in the attribute tag. A placed attribute will change to "In Use" status. Keep your attribute design consistent – colors, fonts, sizes should all be in harmony with the certificate design. Save the template.

Step 3: Upload recipients’ data

Alright, time to upload the spreadsheet into Certifer. When you click “Save”, a window with uploading data will pop up. If it’s not your first certificate design, you can manage your recipients' data from the Credentials dashboard. Name the certificate group and choose “Via spreadsheet upload.” Select the prepared file and add the recipients.

Pick the columns you want to take data from.

Step 4: Map the attributes to the spreadsheet columns 

Certifier is pretty smart – it'll help you map your spreadsheet columns to the right places, so names go with names, emails go with emails, and grades go with grades. Map each column to its attribute. When you see a column that you don't want to include, just click the skip column. Double-check to verify everything is in order.

And if there's a hiccup, like a typo in an email address, Certifier's got your back and will help you fix it. Towards the top, you'll see a yellow notification bar that indicates what's wrong. Filter your records using the “Show invalid rows” option.

Click the edit option in the Actions column. Fix the errors until you see the green notification bar saying: “Great job. You are ready to go!”.

Step 5: Preview and publish

You're almost at the finish line! Before you hit the send button, take a moment to preview your certificates by clicking “Preview Before Publishing.” You can easily switch between certificates with the dropdown list: Preview for.

This is your chance to make sure everything looks perfect. Check that all the custom attributes are showing up right and that there's no problem with the design. Once you're happy with how everything looks, go ahead and publish.