# Import Users

This document explains how to import multiple users into StrongDM using a single command. It also explains how to update users and assign users into their roles via the `sdm admin users` command. You can do this either with JSON or with CSV.

### Get the JSON Template

You may use the `sdm admin users add --template > import.json` command to get a JSON template to modify for later import.

### Example Import JSON

Here's an example JSON for adding two users. Each user must have a unique `email`.

```json
[
	{
    "firstName": "Engineer",
    "lastName": "One",
    "email": "engineer1@example.com",
    "tags": "example"
	},
  {
    "firstName": "Sales",
    "lastName": "Two",
    "email": "sales2@example.com",
    "tags": "example"
  }
]
```

### Run the Import

Once you have created your JSON, you can easily import it into StrongDM.

```bash
sdm admin users add --file import.json
```

### Update Users

To get the current state of StrongDM users in JSON format run `sdm admin users list -j > export.json`. Once you have the state you can modify the JSON and update the users by running `sdm admin users update --file export.json`.

### Assign Roles

Similarly you can batch assign users to roles. Use this command to create a template: `sdm admin users assign --template > assign.json`.

```json
[
  {
    "roleID": "1",
    "roleName": "Engineering",
    "users": [
      {
        "id": "0",
        "email": "engineer1@example.com"
      }
    ]
  }
]
```

You can add multiple role and user assignments into a single JSON. Once the JSON is ready, you can update role assignments using `sdm admin users assign --file assign.json`.

### Use CSV

If you prefer, you can achieve the same results by using CSV files instead. You can import multiple users via CSV with the command `sdm admin users add -c -f <PATH_TO_CSV_FILE>`. The format of this file is (no headers):

```txt
firstname,lastname,email,tags
```

{% hint style="info" %}
For CSV files, there must be at least four fields (for example, `field1,field2,field3,field4`), or else an error is returned. The last field can be blank, where a final comma satisfies the expected input format (for example, `field1,field2,field3,`).
{% endhint %}

Adding users to roles is a little more involved, but it's possible with a bit of bash scripting. Adding users to roles via the CLI uses this format: `sdm admin users assign <ROLE> <EMAIL_1> <EMAIL_2> ... <EMAIL_N>` so you'll need to create a CSV with this format (no headers):

```txt
role,email1,email2,...,emailn
```

With that file created, use the following script to import it. You can run the script as an admin or using an [admin token](/admin/principals/admin-tokens.md).

```bash
#!/bin/bash

while IFS='' read -r line || [[ -n "$line" ]]; do
    expanded=`echo $line|sed -e 's/,/ /g'`
    sdm admin users assign $expanded
done < "$1"
```


---

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