Distribution Lists

Distribution lists contain the phone numbers that the Auto Dialer calls during a campaign. You upload these as CSV files and assign them to campaigns.

What Is a Distribution List

A distribution list is a CSV file containing phone numbers and optional contact information. The Auto Dialer processes each row sequentially, dialing the phone number and routing answered calls to the campaign's configured destination.

Accessing Distribution Lists

Navigate via the sidebar: Auto Dialer > Distribution Lists.

The page layout matches the Campaign Manager:

• Search: Find lists by name
• Status Filter: Filter by Draft, Processing, Ready, In Use, Used, Failed, or Archived
• Refresh Button: Update the list view
• Create Button: Upload a new distribution list

CSV Format

Your CSV file must follow this format:

phone_number,first_name,last_name
+14155551234,John,Doe
+14155555678,Jane,Smith
+14155559001,Robert,Johnson

Required Column

Column	Format	Description
phone_number	E.164	Phone number with country code (e.g., +14155551234)

Optional Columns

Column	Description
first_name	Contact's first name
last_name	Contact's last name

warning

The phone_number column is required. Rows without a valid phone number are rejected during import.

Phone Number Format

Phone numbers must be in E.164 format:

• Start with a plus sign (+)
• Include country code
• No spaces, dashes, or parentheses
• Example: +14155551234 (US), +442071838750 (UK)

Creating a List

1. Click Create List
2. Enter a descriptive name for the list
3. Upload your CSV file
4. Click Create

The system validates and imports the CSV. Large files may take a moment to process.

List Statuses

Distribution lists progress through several statuses:

Status	Description
Draft	List created but no data uploaded yet
Processing	CSV is being validated and imported
Ready	Successfully validated and ready to assign to campaigns
In Use	Currently assigned to an active campaign
Used	Previously assigned to a campaign that has completed
Failed	CSV validation failed (check file format)
Archived	Soft-deleted and hidden from default views

note

A list must be in Ready status before it can be assigned to a campaign. Processing typically completes within seconds for files under 10,000 rows.

Assigning to a Campaign

A campaign must have at least one distribution list assigned before it can start.

1. Find the list in the Distribution Lists page
2. Click the Assign button
3. Select the campaign from the dropdown
4. Confirm the assignment

The list status changes to In Use when the campaign is Active.

warning

A campaign requires at least one distribution list to be assigned before it can be started. You will get an error if you try to start a campaign without a list.

Unassigning from a Campaign

To remove a list from a campaign:

1. Click the Unassign button on the list
2. Confirm the action

You cannot unassign a list from an Active campaign. Pause the campaign first.

List Versioning

Distribution lists support multiple versions. When you upload a new CSV to an existing list, it creates a new version while preserving the history.

This is useful when:

• You need to add more contacts to an existing campaign
• You want to correct errors in the original upload
• You are running recurring campaigns with updated lists

Downloading Example CSV

Click the Example CSV button in the page header to download a template file. The example includes:

• Proper column headers
• Sample data rows
• Correct E.164 formatting

Use this template as a starting point for your own lists.

Managing List Lifecycle

Archiving

Archive lists that are no longer needed:

• Archived lists are hidden from default views
• Archived lists cannot be assigned to new campaigns
• Existing campaign assignments are preserved

Deleting

Some implementations support hard deletion of lists. Check your organization's data retention policies before deleting.

Best Practices

1. Validate Phone Numbers: Ensure all numbers are in E.164 format before uploading

2. Use Descriptive Names: Include date ranges or campaign purposes in list names

3. Test Small First: Upload a small test list (5-10 numbers) to verify your campaign configuration

4. Remove Duplicates: Clean your CSV to remove duplicate phone numbers before upload

5. Respect Do-Not-Call: Filter out numbers on do-not-call lists before creating distribution lists

6. Version Control: Use versioning to track changes to your contact lists over time

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Upload fails	Check CSV format. Ensure phone_number column exists and uses E.164 format.
Status stuck on Processing	Large files may take time. Wait 2-3 minutes. If still processing, contact support.
Failed status	Review the CSV for invalid characters, missing headers, or malformed phone numbers.
Cannot assign list	List must be in Ready status. Wait for processing to complete.