Latest Update: 9-1-2026
Sometimes you want to copy a list of activities from another app and paste them quickly into Planera.
Copying activities (with or without their duration) from other software such as MSFT Excel, Google Sheets, Notepad, Word, or similar programs is straightforward.
If copying from a spreadsheet or spreadsheet-like software:
Create three columns - column 1 should contain the Activity name, and columns 2 & 3 should have duration in days (optional) and activity ID (optional).
Note: The activity name column must be the far left column, the other 2 columns are optional and can go in either order.
Select the desired cells and copy them (usually Ctrl+C)
Navigate to the desired location on Planera Canvas
Press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac), then select Paste as Multiple Activities to add activities with their durations to the canvas, or paste directly as a text box.
Or right-click and select Create X New Activities
Notes:
The first time you copy and paste, you'll need to grant clipboard permissions. To learn more, refer to this article: Troubleshoot | Copy/Paste is not working
If copying from a text editor like Notepad or MS Word, ensure each activity is on a new line and durations are separated by the tab key.
You can also copy only the activity names without their durations or activity ID's. Just select the single column with the activity names from the spreadsheet and copy.
If you paste activity ID's that already exist in your schedule, you will be prompted to create new ID's or you can Auto-assign ID's
Duration can be in any of the following formats:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to include an ID column when I paste from Excel?
No. Leave the ID column out, or leave individual cells blank, and Planera assigns IDs automatically like it always has.
What happens if I paste an ID that is already used in my project?
Planera stops and shows a dialog listing the conflicting rows. Click "Renumber" to have Planera assign new IDs automatically, or set a different ID yourself for each row.
Can I set custom IDs for tasks, not just activities?
Task-level ID support is more limited than activity-level support at launch. If you run into unexpected behavior pasting task rows with IDs, check with your Planera contact.
Will empty cells in my Excel sheet cause problems when I paste?
No. Empty cells paste as blank in Planera. They do not get filled in with placeholder characters.
Does this work the same way for copying activities without durations?
Yes. You can still copy just Activity name and ID, or Activity name alone, the same way you always could. Adding an ID column is optional and does not change how the other columns behave.