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New in the Decision Wheel: File Import and Seasonal Color Themes

Two requests from earlier guides on this tool just shipped: a file-import button for the options box, and one-click seasonal color themes. This post walks through what each one actually does on ToolPico's free Decision Wheel, with concrete examples of how to use them.

In this guide

Importing options from a CSV or text file

Short answerA new Import CSV / list file button sits directly under the options textarea. Click it, choose a .csv or .txt file, and its contents load straight into the options box — one option per line, same as typing or pasting.

Previously, getting a list into the wheel meant typing it by hand or pasting plain text copied from somewhere else. That still works, but now there's a dedicated shortcut: the Import CSV / list file button, paired with a file picker that accepts .csv and .txt files. Instead of opening a spreadsheet, copying a column, and pasting it in, you can hand the wheel a file directly.

The import doesn't try to parse a CSV into columns or reformat anything — it reads the file's lines into the textarea exactly like the existing input format, so all the syntax you already know still applies. If a line in your file already has a weight (Tacos*3) or a trailing color code (Sushi #06b6d4), that carries straight through after import, since it's just text arriving in the same box.

Example scenario (illustrative)Say a teacher keeps a class roster as a plain-text file exported from a school system, one student name per line. Instead of retyping 28 names before every wheel spin, they click Import, pick the file once, and the full roster appears in the options box ready to spin — a one-time export becomes a reusable list.

This is aimed squarely at the case earlier guides on this tool flagged as a gap: lists that live somewhere else first — a spreadsheet export, a saved roster, a raffle entry file — can now be handed to the wheel as a file instead of being retyped or pasted line by line.

One-click seasonal color themes

Short answerBelow the per-option color swatches is a new Seasonal color theme row of ready-made palettes — including Halloween and Winter — that recolor your current slices in one click, without touching the option text.

The manual color swatches next to each option were already there for picking individual slice colors one at a time. The new seasonal theme row sits just below that field and works differently: instead of choosing one color per option, you click a single themed swatch and it applies a matching palette across all of your current options at once, in order.

It only changes color, not content. Your option list, weights, and order stay exactly as typed — the theme swatch is purely a shortcut for what used to be a manual, one-swatch-at-a-time process. If you want to go back to the automatic default palette afterward, clearing the individual color swatches removes the theme's colors.

Example scenario (illustrative)A classroom is running a Halloween-week raffle wheel with student names already typed in. Instead of picking orange and near-black for each name one by one, the teacher clicks the Halloween theme swatch once, and every slice in the list recolors to match — the names themselves don't change.

Using both features together

Short answerImport a file to fill the options box fast, then click a seasonal swatch to color the whole list at once — the two new features are independent but designed to be used back-to-back.

On their own, each feature saves a different kind of manual work: import removes retyping, and seasonal themes remove one-by-one coloring. Used together, they cover the two slowest parts of preparing a themed wheel for an event. Import a saved list of names or prize entries from a file, click a seasonal theme swatch to match the occasion, and the wheel is ready to spin without touching the textarea's typing or the color swatches individually.

Neither feature changes how spinning or fairness works underneath — the wheel still uses the same weight-proportional, cryptographically random selection described in earlier guides on this tool. Import and seasonal themes only affect how quickly you get options and colors into the wheel in the first place.

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Frequently asked questions

What file types can I import into the decision wheel?
The Import CSV / list file button next to the options box accepts .csv and .txt files (plain-text lists). Choose a file and its contents are read directly into the options textarea, one option per line, the same as if you'd typed or pasted the list by hand — including any existing *number weights or trailing #hex colors already in the file.
Does importing a file replace my current list or add to it?
Importing loads the file's contents into the options textarea, so treat it like starting fresh from that file. If you want to combine an imported list with lines you've already typed, import the file first, then add or edit lines afterward — the textarea stays fully editable after an import, exactly like it does after loading a preset.
What are the seasonal color themes, and where do I find them?
Below the per-option color swatches is a new Seasonal color theme section with one-click swatches such as Halloween and Winter. Clicking one applies a themed color palette to your current slices in order, without changing the option text itself — it's a fast way to color-match a wheel to an occasion instead of picking each slice color by hand.
Do the seasonal themes work with a list imported from a file?
Yes. Since a seasonal theme colors whichever options are currently in the textarea, you can import a CSV or text file first and then click a seasonal swatch to color the imported list. The two features are independent, but they're designed to work together: import to fill the wheel fast, then theme it in one more click.
Can I undo a seasonal theme once I've applied it?
Yes. Each option's color swatch has a small clear control that removes the manual color and reverts that slice to the automatic palette. Clearing every swatch effectively undoes a seasonal theme, and you can always apply a different seasonal swatch afterward to switch themes instead of clearing first.

Related guides

Methodology: This guide describes two features confirmed present in ToolPico's Decision Wheel at the time of writing: the CSV/plain-text list file import button next to the options textarea, and the one-click seasonal color theme swatches below the per-option color field. Both were verified directly against the tool's current markup before writing. Example scenarios above are illustrative only, not real usage data. This article is informational and does not constitute legal advice for regulated drawings, contests, or sweepstakes.