diff --git a/orcli b/orcli
index 1ca47f3..0485883 100755
--- a/orcli
+++ b/orcli
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ orcli_usage() {
   # :command.usage_commands
   printf "Commands:\n"
   echo "  info     show project metadata"
-  echo "  import   "
+  echo "  import   import commands"
   echo "  list     list projects on OpenRefine server"
   echo
 
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ orcli_usage() {
     printf "Examples:\n"
 
     printf "  orcli list\n"
-    printf "  orcli info clipboard\n"
+    printf "  orcli import csv file\n"
+    printf "  orcli info Clipboard\n"
     printf "  orcli info 1234567890123\n"
     echo
     # :command.footer
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ orcli_info_usage() {
     # :command.usage_examples
     printf "Examples:\n"
 
-    printf "  info clipboard\n"
+    printf "  info Clipboard\n"
     printf "  info 1234567890123\n"
     echo
 
@@ -116,18 +117,22 @@ orcli_info_usage() {
 # :command.usage
 orcli_import_usage() {
   if [[ -n $long_usage ]]; then
-    printf "orcli import - \n"
+    printf "orcli import - import commands\n"
     echo
 
   else
-    printf "orcli import - \n"
+    printf "orcli import - import commands\n"
     echo
 
   fi
 
   printf "Usage:\n"
-  printf "  orcli import\n"
-  printf "  orcli import --help | -h\n"
+  printf "  orcli import [command]\n"
+  printf "  orcli import [command] --help | -h\n"
+  echo
+  # :command.usage_commands
+  printf "Commands:\n"
+  echo "  csv   import comma-separated values (CSV)"
   echo
 
   if [[ -n $long_usage ]]; then
@@ -140,6 +145,70 @@ orcli_import_usage() {
   fi
 }
 
+# :command.usage
+orcli_import_csv_usage() {
+  if [[ -n $long_usage ]]; then
+    printf "orcli import csv - import comma-separated values (CSV)\n"
+    echo
+
+  else
+    printf "orcli import csv - import comma-separated values (CSV)\n"
+    echo
+
+  fi
+
+  printf "Usage:\n"
+  printf "  orcli import csv [FILE...] [options]\n"
+  printf "  orcli import csv --help | -h\n"
+  echo
+
+  if [[ -n $long_usage ]]; then
+    printf "Options:\n"
+    # :command.usage_fixed_flags
+    echo "  --help, -h"
+    printf "    Show this help\n"
+    echo
+    # :command.usage_flags
+    # :flag.usage
+    echo "  --separator SEPARATOR"
+    printf "    character(s) that separates columns\n"
+    printf "    Default: ,\n"
+    echo
+
+    # :flag.usage
+    echo "  --encoding ENCODING"
+    printf "    set character encoding\n"
+    echo
+
+    # :flag.usage
+    echo "  --trimStrings"
+    printf "    trim leading & trailing whitespace from strings\n"
+    echo
+
+    # :flag.usage
+    echo "  --projectName PROJECTNAME"
+    printf "    set a name for the OpenRefine project\n"
+    echo
+    # :command.usage_args
+    printf "Arguments:\n"
+
+    # :argument.usage
+    echo "  FILE..."
+    printf "    Path to one or more files. When FILE is -, read standard input.\n"
+    printf "    Default: -\n"
+    echo
+
+    # :command.usage_examples
+    printf "Examples:\n"
+
+    printf "  orcli import csv file\n"
+    printf "  cat file | orcli import csv\n"
+    printf "  orcli import csv --separator ; --encoding ISO-8859-1 --trimStrings\n  --projectName example\n"
+    echo
+
+  fi
+}
+
 # :command.usage
 orcli_list_usage() {
   if [[ -n $long_usage ]]; then
@@ -249,6 +318,56 @@ function get_id() {
   echo "$ids"
 }
 
+# src/lib/init_import.sh
+# common import tasks to support multiple files and URLs
+# shellcheck shell=bash
+function init_import() {
+    local files
+    local file
+    local tmpdir
+    # catch args, convert the space delimited string to an array
+    files=()
+    eval "files=(${args[file]})"
+    # create tmp directory
+    tmpdir="$(mktemp -d)"
+    trap 'rm -rf "$tmpdir"' 0 2 3 15
+    # download files if name starts with http:// or https://
+    for i in "${!files[@]}"; do
+        if [[ ${files[$i]} == "http://"* ]] || [[ ${files[$i]} == "https://"* ]]; then
+            if ! curl -fs --location "${files[$i]}" >"${tmpdir}/${files[$i]##*/}"; then
+                error "download of ${files[$i]} failed!"
+            fi
+            files[$i]="${tmpdir}/${files[$i]##*/}"
+        fi
+    done
+    # create a zip archive if there are multiple files
+    if [[ ${#files[@]} -gt 1 ]]; then
+        file="$tmpdir/Untitled.zip"
+        zip "$file" "${files[@]}"
+    else
+        file="${files[0]}"
+    fi
+    # basic post data
+    if [[ ${file} == "-" ]]; then
+        data+=("project-file=@-")
+    else
+        if ! path=$(readlink -e "${file}"); then
+            error "file ${file} not found!"
+        fi
+        data+=("project-file=@${path}")
+    fi
+    if [[ ${args[--projectName]} ]]; then
+        data+=("project-name=${args[--projectName]}")
+    else
+        if [[ ${file} == "-" ]]; then
+            name="Untitled"
+        else
+            name="$(basename "${path}" | tr '.' ' ')"
+        fi
+        data+=("project-name=${name}")
+    fi
+}
+
 # src/lib/logging.sh
 # print messages to STDERR
 # shellcheck shell=bash
@@ -264,6 +383,37 @@ function log() {
   for msg in "$@"; do echo >&2 "$msg"; done
 }
 
+# src/lib/post_import.sh
+# post to create-project endpoint and validate
+# shellcheck shell=bash disable=SC2154
+function post_import() {
+    local curloptions
+    local projectid
+    local projectname
+    local rows
+    # post
+    mapfile -t curloptions < <(for d in "$@"; do
+        echo "--form"
+        echo "$d"
+    done)
+    if ! redirect_url="$(curl -fs --write-out "%{redirect_url}\n" "${curloptions[@]}" "${OPENREFINE_URL}/command/core/create-project-from-upload$(get_csrf)")"; then
+        error "import of ${args[file]} failed!"
+    fi
+    # validate
+    projectid=$(cut -d '=' -f 2 <<<"$redirect_url")
+    if [[ ${#projectid} != 13 ]]; then
+        error "import of ${args[file]} failed!"
+    fi
+    projectname=$(curl -fs --get --data project="$projectid" "${OPENREFINE_URL}/command/core/get-project-metadata" | tr "," "\n" | grep name | cut -d ":" -f 2)
+    projectname="${projectname:1:${#projectname}-2}"
+    rows=$(curl -fs --get --data project="$projectid" --data limit=0 "${OPENREFINE_URL}/command/core/get-rows" | tr "," "\n" | grep total | cut -d ":" -f 2)
+    if [[ "$rows" = "0" ]]; then
+        error "import of ${args[file]} contains 0 rows!" "${redirect_url}" "name:${projectname}" "rows:${rows}"
+    else
+        log "import of ${args[file]} successful" "${redirect_url}" "name:${projectname}" "rows:${rows}"
+    fi
+}
+
 # :command.command_functions
 # :command.function
 orcli_info_command() {
@@ -273,10 +423,36 @@ orcli_info_command() {
 }
 
 # :command.function
-orcli_import_command() {
-  # src/import_command.sh
+orcli_import_csv_command() {
+  # src/import_csv_command.sh
   # shellcheck shell=bash
-  get_csrf
+
+  # call init_import function to eval args and to set basic post data
+  init_import
+
+  # check if stdin is present if selected
+  if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' ]] || [[ ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]] && [ -t 0 ]; then
+      orcli_import_csv_usage
+      exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # assemble specific post data (some options require json format)
+  data+=("format=text/line-based/*sv")
+  options='{ '
+  options+="\"separator\": \"${args[--separator]}\""
+  if [[ ${args[--encoding]} ]]; then
+      options+=', '
+      options+="\"encoding\": \"${args[--encoding]}\""
+  fi
+  if [[ ${args[--trimStrings]} ]]; then
+      options+=', '
+      options+="\"trimStrings\": true"
+  fi
+  options+=' }'
+  data+=("options=${options}")
+
+  # call post_import function to post data and validate results
+  post_import "${data[@]}"
 }
 
 # :command.function
@@ -448,7 +624,26 @@ orcli_import_parse_requirements() {
   # :command.environment_variables_filter
   # :command.dependencies_filter
   # :command.command_filter
-  action="import"
+  action=${1:-}
+
+  case $action in
+  -* )
+    ;;
+
+  csv )
+    action="csv"
+    shift
+    orcli_import_csv_parse_requirements "$@"
+    shift $#
+    ;;
+
+  # :command.command_fallback
+  * )
+    orcli_import_usage
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+
+  esac
   # :command.parse_requirements_while
   while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
     key="$1"
@@ -475,6 +670,103 @@ orcli_import_parse_requirements() {
   # :command.user_filter
 }
 
+# :command.parse_requirements
+orcli_import_csv_parse_requirements() {
+  # :command.fixed_flags_filter
+  case "${1:-}" in
+  --help | -h )
+    long_usage=yes
+    orcli_import_csv_usage
+    exit
+    ;;
+
+  esac
+  # :command.environment_variables_filter
+  # :command.dependencies_filter
+  # :command.command_filter
+  action="import csv"
+  # :command.parse_requirements_while
+  while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    key="$1"
+    case "$key" in
+    # :flag.case
+    --separator )
+      # :flag.conflicts
+      if [[ -n ${2+x} ]]; then
+        # :flag.validations
+        args[--separator]="$2"
+        shift
+        shift
+      else
+        printf "%s\n" "--separator requires an argument: --separator SEPARATOR"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+      ;;
+
+    # :flag.case
+    --encoding )
+      # :flag.conflicts
+      if [[ -n ${2+x} ]]; then
+        # :flag.validations
+        args[--encoding]="$2"
+        shift
+        shift
+      else
+        printf "%s\n" "--encoding requires an argument: --encoding ENCODING"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+      ;;
+
+    # :flag.case
+    --trimStrings )
+      # :flag.conflicts
+      args[--trimStrings]=1
+      shift
+      ;;
+
+    # :flag.case
+    --projectName )
+      # :flag.conflicts
+      if [[ -n ${2+x} ]]; then
+        # :flag.validations
+        args[--projectName]="$2"
+        shift
+        shift
+      else
+        printf "%s\n" "--projectName requires an argument: --projectName PROJECTNAME"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+      ;;
+
+    -?* )
+      printf "invalid option: %s\n" "$key"
+      exit 1
+      ;;
+
+    * )
+      # :command.parse_requirements_case
+      if [[ -z ${args[file]+x} ]]; then
+        # :argument.validations
+        args[file]="\"$1\""
+        shift
+      else
+        args[file]="${args[file]} \"$1\""
+        shift
+      fi
+      ;;
+
+    esac
+  done
+  # :command.required_args_filter
+  # :command.required_flags_filter
+  # :command.catch_all_filter
+  # :command.default_assignments
+  [[ -n ${args[file]:-} ]] || args[file]="-"
+  [[ -n ${args[--separator]:-} ]] || args[--separator]=","
+  # :command.whitelist_filter
+  # :command.user_filter
+}
+
 # :command.parse_requirements
 orcli_list_parse_requirements() {
   # :command.fixed_flags_filter
@@ -549,6 +841,14 @@ run() {
       orcli_import_command
     fi
 
+  elif [[ $action == "import csv" ]]; then
+    if [[ ${args[--help]:-} ]]; then
+      long_usage=yes
+      orcli_import_csv_usage
+    else
+      orcli_import_csv_command
+    fi
+
   elif [[ $action == "list" ]]; then
     if [[ ${args[--help]:-} ]]; then
       long_usage=yes
diff --git a/src/bashly.yml b/src/bashly.yml
index 0647884..a62d62d 100644
--- a/src/bashly.yml
+++ b/src/bashly.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ environment_variables:
 
 examples:
   - orcli list
-  - orcli info clipboard
+  - orcli import csv file
+  - orcli import csv "https://github.com/LibraryCarpentry/lc-open-refine/raw/gh-pages/data/doaj-article-sample.csv" 
+  - orcli info Clipboard
   - orcli info 1234567890123
 
 commands:
@@ -25,10 +27,39 @@ commands:
         help: project name or id
         required: true
     examples:
-      - info clipboard
+      - info Clipboard
       - info 1234567890123
 
   - name: import
+    help: import commands
+
+    commands:
+      - name: csv
+        help: import comma-separated values (CSV)
+        args:
+          - name: file
+            help: Path to one or more files or URLs. When FILE is -, read standard input.
+            default: "-"
+            repeatable: true
+        flags:
+          - long: --separator
+            help: character(s) that separates columns
+            arg: separator
+            default: ","
+          - long: --encoding
+            help: set character encoding
+            arg: encoding
+          - long: --trimStrings
+            help: trim leading & trailing whitespace from strings
+          - long: --projectName
+            arg: projectName
+            help: set a name for the OpenRefine project
+
+        examples:
+          - orcli import csv file
+          - cat file | orcli import csv
+          - orcli import csv file --separator ; --encoding ISO-8859-1 --trimStrings --projectName example
+          - orcli import csv "https://github.com/LibraryCarpentry/lc-open-refine/raw/gh-pages/data/doaj-article-sample.csv" 
 
   - name: list
     help: list projects on OpenRefine server
diff --git a/src/import_command.sh b/src/import_command.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 19e14dc..0000000
--- a/src/import_command.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-# shellcheck shell=bash
-get_csrf
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/import_csv_command.sh b/src/import_csv_command.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53fbc4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/import_csv_command.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# shellcheck shell=bash
+
+# call init_import function to eval args and to set basic post data
+init_import
+
+# check if stdin is present if selected
+if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' ]] || [[ ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]] && [ -t 0 ]; then
+    orcli_import_csv_usage
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# assemble specific post data (some options require json format)
+data+=("format=text/line-based/*sv")
+options='{ '
+options+="\"separator\": \"${args[--separator]}\""
+if [[ ${args[--encoding]} ]]; then
+    options+=', '
+    options+="\"encoding\": \"${args[--encoding]}\""
+fi
+if [[ ${args[--trimStrings]} ]]; then
+    options+=', '
+    options+="\"trimStrings\": true"
+fi
+options+=' }'
+data+=("options=${options}")
+
+# call post_import function to post data and validate results
+post_import "${data[@]}"
diff --git a/src/lib/init_import.sh b/src/lib/init_import.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df2a405
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/init_import.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# common import tasks to support multiple files and URLs
+# shellcheck shell=bash
+function init_import() {
+    local files
+    local file
+    local tmpdir
+    # catch args, convert the space delimited string to an array
+    files=()
+    eval "files=(${args[file]})"
+    # create tmp directory
+    tmpdir="$(mktemp -d)"
+    trap 'rm -rf "$tmpdir"' 0 2 3 15
+    # download files if name starts with http:// or https://
+    for i in "${!files[@]}"; do
+        if [[ ${files[$i]} == "http://"* ]] || [[ ${files[$i]} == "https://"* ]]; then
+            if ! curl -fs --location "${files[$i]}" >"${tmpdir}/${files[$i]##*/}"; then
+                error "download of ${files[$i]} failed!"
+            fi
+            files[$i]="${tmpdir}/${files[$i]##*/}"
+        fi
+    done
+    # create a zip archive if there are multiple files
+    if [[ ${#files[@]} -gt 1 ]]; then
+        file="$tmpdir/Untitled.zip"
+        zip "$file" "${files[@]}"
+    else
+        file="${files[0]}"
+    fi
+    # basic post data
+    if [[ ${file} == "-" ]]; then
+        data+=("project-file=@-")
+    else
+        if ! path=$(readlink -e "${file}"); then
+            error "file ${file} not found!"
+        fi
+        data+=("project-file=@${path}")
+    fi
+    if [[ ${args[--projectName]} ]]; then
+        data+=("project-name=${args[--projectName]}")
+    else
+        if [[ ${file} == "-" ]]; then
+            name="Untitled"
+        else
+            name="$(basename "${path}" | tr '.' ' ')"
+        fi
+        data+=("project-name=${name}")
+    fi
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/post_import.sh b/src/lib/post_import.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aac2bbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/post_import.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# post to create-project endpoint and validate
+# shellcheck shell=bash disable=SC2154
+function post_import() {
+    local curloptions
+    local projectid
+    local projectname
+    local rows
+    # post
+    mapfile -t curloptions < <(for d in "$@"; do
+        echo "--form"
+        echo "$d"
+    done)
+    if ! redirect_url="$(curl -fs --write-out "%{redirect_url}\n" "${curloptions[@]}" "${OPENREFINE_URL}/command/core/create-project-from-upload$(get_csrf)")"; then
+        error "import of ${args[file]} failed!"
+    fi
+    # validate
+    projectid=$(cut -d '=' -f 2 <<<"$redirect_url")
+    if [[ ${#projectid} != 13 ]]; then
+        error "import of ${args[file]} failed!"
+    fi
+    projectname=$(curl -fs --get --data project="$projectid" "${OPENREFINE_URL}/command/core/get-project-metadata" | tr "," "\n" | grep name | cut -d ":" -f 2)
+    projectname="${projectname:1:${#projectname}-2}"
+    rows=$(curl -fs --get --data project="$projectid" --data limit=0 "${OPENREFINE_URL}/command/core/get-rows" | tr "," "\n" | grep total | cut -d ":" -f 2)
+    if [[ "$rows" = "0" ]]; then
+        error "import of ${args[file]} contains 0 rows!" "${redirect_url}" "name:${projectname}" "rows:${rows}"
+    else
+        log "import of ${args[file]} successful" "${redirect_url}" "name:${projectname}" "rows:${rows}"
+    fi
+}