A .csv file can be created in Excel. In a spreadsheet create the following headings and enter the information as described. Information in one row of the spreadsheet should correspond to one species (but potentially multiple individuals) in a single place at a single time but records for multiple species, places and times can be entered into the same spreadsheet.

Email: your email address is required if you are not logged in. If you are registered and logged in you do not need to provide an email address.

Date: the date of the observation in the format DD/MM/YYYY.

Gridref: the grid reference for the location of the observation in the format, for example, SE456456.

SampComment: information about the survey, for example if it was part of a particular monitoring regime or study.

Species: the name of the species or group you observed. Records may be rejected if the name is not in the format recognised by the species dictionary. You can visit the Single Record page and type in the species name to check its format in the dictionary.

Count: the number individuals of the species you observed.

Confidence: one of the following three options can be entered: "Certain", "Likely" or "Possible".

OccComment: for example, notes about that might help with identification or interesting observations about behaviour.

Now in the spreadsheet go to File > Save As and for Save As Type select CSV (comma delimited).

Then click browse below to select and upload the file. You will then be asked which attributes your columns correspond to. Select the following options:

Email: Sample Custom Attributes > Email

Date: Sample > Date

GridRef: Sample > Grid ref or other spatial ref

SampComment: Sample > Comment

Species: Occurrence > Species or taxon selected from existing list

Count: Occurrence Custom Attributes > Total Count

Confidence: Occurrence Custom Attributes > Certainty (lookup existing record)

OccComment: Occurrence > Comment