diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6f599c2..b47cfca 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ add_library(${TARGET_APP} STATIC
   model/commands/edititemcommand.h model/commands/edititemcommand.cpp
   data/filehandler.h data/filehandler.cpp
   model/metadata.h
+  formats/csvparser.h formats/csvparser.cpp
+  # 3rd party libraries
+  ../3rdParty/rapidcsv/src/rapidcsv.h
 )
 
 include_directories(${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
diff --git a/data/filehandler.cpp b/data/filehandler.cpp
index 5cd9bba..c405e55 100644
--- a/data/filehandler.cpp
+++ b/data/filehandler.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include <QJsonDocument>
 #include <QStandardPaths>
 
+#include "../formats/csvparser.h"
+
 bool FileHandler::saveToFile(const QJsonDocument& doc, const QString& fileName) {
   qDebug() << "saving file...";
   QString path = QStandardPaths::standardLocations(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation).at(0);
@@ -29,25 +31,59 @@ bool FileHandler::saveToFile(const QJsonDocument& doc, const QString& fileName)
 }
 
 QByteArray FileHandler::loadJSONDataFromFile(const QString fileName) {
-  QByteArray jsonData;
   QFile file;
   QString path = QStandardPaths::standardLocations(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation).at(0);
   file.setFileName(path + "/" + fileName);
+
+  QPair<QString, QByteArray> fileContent = getFileContent(path + "/" + fileName);
+
+  return fileContent.second;
+}
+
+QList<ModelItemValues> FileHandler::getItemValuesFromCSVFile(const QString& filePath) {
+  QList<ModelItemValues> result;
+  QFile file;
+  file.setFileName(filePath);
+  if (file.exists()) {
+    result = CsvParser::getItemsFromCSVFile(filePath);
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+bool FileHandler::exportToCSVFile(const QList<QStringList>& rows, const QString& filePath) {
+  return CsvParser::exportToCSVFile(rows, filePath);
+}
+
+FileHandler::FileHandler() {}
+
+/** Tries to open the file specified by the file path & returns the content
+ * @brief FileHandler::getFileContent
+ * @param filePath
+ * @return Returns an error string (empty if successful) and the file content
+ */
+QPair<QString, QByteArray> FileHandler::getFileContent(const QString& filePath) {
+  QString errorString = "";
+
+  QByteArray fileContent;
+  QFile file;
+  file.setFileName(filePath);
   if (file.exists()) {
     qDebug() << "File found, reading content...";
     const bool successfulOpened = file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly | QIODevice::Text);
     if (successfulOpened) {
       // TODO learn and decide on the differences between "readAll" and using
       // streams
-      jsonData = file.readAll();
+      fileContent = file.readAll();
       file.close();
     } else {
-      qWarning() << "File could not be opened!";
+      errorString = "File could not be opened!";
+      qWarning() << errorString;
     }
   } else {
-    qInfo() << "File not found. Returning empty result...";
+    errorString = "File not found. Returning empty result...";
+    qInfo() << errorString;
   }
-  return jsonData;
-}
 
-FileHandler::FileHandler() {}
+  const QPair<QString, QByteArray> result(errorString, fileContent);
+  return result;
+}
diff --git a/data/filehandler.h b/data/filehandler.h
index aecf072..6fd6019 100644
--- a/data/filehandler.h
+++ b/data/filehandler.h
@@ -1,17 +1,28 @@
 #ifndef FILEHANDLER_H
 #define FILEHANDLER_H
 
+#include <QVariant>
+
+typedef QHash<int, QVariant> ModelItemValues;
+
 class QJsonDocument;
 class QString;
 class QByteArray;
 
 class FileHandler {
  public:
+  /// JSON
   static bool saveToFile(const QJsonDocument& doc, const QString& fileName);
   static QByteArray loadJSONDataFromFile(const QString fileName);
 
+  /// CSV
+  static QList<ModelItemValues> getItemValuesFromCSVFile(const QString& filePath);
+  static bool exportToCSVFile(const QList<QStringList>& rows, const QString& filePath);
+
  private:
   explicit FileHandler();
+
+  static QPair<QString, QByteArray> getFileContent(const QString& filePath);
 };
 
 #endif  // FILEHANDLER_H
diff --git a/formats/csvparser.cpp b/formats/csvparser.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..365de1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/formats/csvparser.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+#include "csvparser.h"
+
+#include <QHash>
+#include <QLocale>
+#include <QVariant>
+
+#include "../../3rdParty/rapidcsv/src/rapidcsv.h"
+#include "../model/metadata.h"
+
+using namespace rapidcsv;
+
+QList<ModelItemValues> CsvParser::getItemsFromCSVFile(const QString& fileName) {
+  Document doc(fileName.toStdString());
+
+  const bool isCompatible = isCsvCompatible(doc);
+  if (isCompatible) {
+    const QList<ModelItemValues> result = createListItemsFromCsvEntries(doc);
+    return result;
+  } else {
+    return QList<ModelItemValues>();
+  }
+}
+
+bool CsvParser::exportToCSVFile(const QList<QStringList>& rows, const QString& filePath) {
+  Document doc(std::string(), LabelParams(0, -1));
+  const QList<QString> headerNames = GET_HEADER_NAMES();
+  for (int column = 0; column < headerNames.size(); ++column) {
+    doc.SetColumnName(column, headerNames.at(column).toStdString());
+  }
+  for (int row = 0; row < rows.size(); ++row) {
+    QStringList rowValues = rows.at(row);
+    std::vector<std::string> rowValueStrings;
+    for (int column = 0; column < rowValues.size(); ++column) {
+      rowValueStrings.push_back(rowValues.at(column).toStdString());
+    }
+    doc.InsertRow(row, rowValueStrings);
+  }
+  doc.Save(filePath.toStdString());
+  return true;
+}
+
+CsvParser::CsvParser() {}
+
+/** A CSV file is compatible if the following is true:
+ *  - there is a CSV column for every column in the table model
+ *  (except there are optional columns defined in the model)
+ * @brief CsvParser::isCsvCompatible
+ * @param doc
+ * @return
+ */
+bool CsvParser::isCsvCompatible(const rapidcsv::Document& doc) {
+  qInfo() << "Checking CSV document for compatiblity...";
+  const std::vector<std::string> columnNames = doc.GetColumnNames();
+  for (const QString& headerName : GET_HEADER_NAMES()) {
+    bool isHeaderNameFound = false;
+    if (std::find(columnNames.begin(), columnNames.end(), headerName) != columnNames.end()) {
+      qDebug() << QString("Header found in column names: %1").arg(headerName);
+    } else {
+      const QString errorString =
+          QString("Couldn't find header name '%1' in CSV file. Aborting...").arg(headerName);
+      qWarning() << errorString;
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+QList<ModelItemValues> CsvParser::createListItemsFromCsvEntries(const rapidcsv::Document& doc) {
+  QList<ModelItemValues> result;
+  const int rowCount               = doc.GetRowCount();
+  const QList<QString> headerNames = GET_HEADER_NAMES();
+
+  /// get the values for all columns
+  QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>> columnValueMap = extractColumnValues(headerNames, doc);
+
+  /// get item values for each row
+  for (int row = 0; row < rowCount; ++row) {
+    const ModelItemValues itemValues = getItemValuesForRow(headerNames, columnValueMap, row);
+    result.append(itemValues);
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>> CsvParser::extractColumnValues(
+    const QList<QString> headerNames,
+    const rapidcsv::Document& doc) {
+  QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>> columnValueMap;
+  for (const QString& columnName : headerNames) {
+    // NEXT add support for optional columns
+    // if (optionalCsvHeaderNames.contains(columnName)) {
+    //   const std::vector<std::string> columnNames = doc.GetColumnNames();
+    //   int columnIdx                              = doc.GetColumnIdx(columnName.toStdString());
+    //   if (columnIdx == -1) {
+    //     continue;
+    //   }
+    // }
+    const std::vector<std::string> columnValues =
+        doc.GetColumn<std::string>(columnName.toStdString());
+    columnValueMap.insert(columnName, columnValues);
+  }
+
+  return columnValueMap;
+}
+
+ModelItemValues CsvParser::getItemValuesForRow(
+    const QList<QString>& headerNames,
+    const QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>>& columnValueMap,
+    const int row) {
+  ModelItemValues result;
+  for (const QString& columnName : headerNames) {
+    if (!columnValueMap.contains(columnName)) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    int role                = ROLE_NAMES.key(columnName.toLatin1());
+    std::string valueString = columnValueMap.value(columnName).at(row);
+
+    QVariant value = parseItemValue(role, valueString);
+    if (value.isValid()) {
+      result[role] = value;
+    }
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+QVariant CsvParser::parseItemValue(const int role, const std::string& valueString) {
+  QVariant result;
+  if (STRING_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    /// string values
+    result = QString::fromStdString(valueString);
+  } else if (INT_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    /// int values
+
+    /// GetColumn<int> crashed (probably because of the empty values)
+    /// so the strings will be processed later
+    const QString intAsString = QString::fromStdString(valueString);
+    result                    = intAsString.toInt();
+  } else if (DOUBLE_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    /// double values
+    const QString doubleAsString = QString::fromStdString(valueString);
+    double doubleValue;
+    if (doubleAsString.contains(',')) {
+      QLocale german(QLocale::German);
+      doubleValue = german.toDouble(doubleAsString);
+    } else {
+      doubleValue = doubleAsString.toDouble();
+    }
+    result = doubleValue;
+
+    // } else if (typeColumns.contains(columnName)) {
+    //   // NEXT validate string is allowed
+    //   values[role] = QString::fromStdString(columnValueMap.value(columnName).at(row));
+  } else {
+    /// no type recognized for column
+    QString errorString = QString("Couldn't find value type for role '%1'").arg(role);
+    qCritical() << errorString;
+  }
+  return result;
+}
diff --git a/formats/csvparser.h b/formats/csvparser.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7695156
--- /dev/null
+++ b/formats/csvparser.h
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#ifndef CSVPARSER_H
+#define CSVPARSER_H
+
+#include <QString>
+
+typedef QHash<int, QVariant> ModelItemValues;
+
+namespace rapidcsv {
+class Document;
+}
+
+class CsvParser {
+ public:
+  static QList<ModelItemValues> getItemsFromCSVFile(const QString& fileName);
+  static bool exportToCSVFile(const QList<QStringList>& rows, const QString& filePath);
+
+ private:
+  explicit CsvParser();
+
+  static bool isCsvCompatible(const rapidcsv::Document& doc);
+  static QList<ModelItemValues> createListItemsFromCsvEntries(const rapidcsv::Document& doc);
+  static QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>> extractColumnValues(
+      const QList<QString> headerNames,
+      const rapidcsv::Document& doc);
+  static ModelItemValues getItemValuesForRow(
+      const QList<QString>& headerNames,
+      const QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>>& columnValueMap,
+      const int row);
+  static QVariant parseItemValue(const int role, const std::string& valueString);
+};
+
+#endif  // CSVPARSER_H
diff --git a/formats/jsonparser.cpp b/formats/jsonparser.cpp
index 075f607..aa24722 100644
--- a/formats/jsonparser.cpp
+++ b/formats/jsonparser.cpp
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 
 #include "../model/metadata.h"
 
-QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> JsonParser::toItemValuesList(const QByteArray& jsonData,
-                                                         const QString& objectName) {
-  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> result;
+QList<ModelItemValues> JsonParser::toItemValuesList(const QByteArray& jsonData,
+                                                    const QString& objectName) {
+  QList<ModelItemValues> result;
 
   if (jsonData.isEmpty()) {
     return result;
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> JsonParser::toItemValuesList(const QByteArray& jsonD
   QJsonArray itemArray = extractItemArray(jsonData, objectName);
 
   foreach (QJsonValue value, itemArray) {
-    QJsonObject itemJsonObject  = value.toObject();
-    QHash<int, QVariant> values = jsonObjectToItemValues(itemJsonObject);
+    QJsonObject itemJsonObject = value.toObject();
+    ModelItemValues values     = jsonObjectToItemValues(itemJsonObject);
     result.append(values);
   }
   return result;
 }
 
-QByteArray JsonParser::itemValuesListToJson(const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>>& itemValuesList,
+QByteArray JsonParser::itemValuesListToJson(const QList<ModelItemValues>& itemValuesList,
                                             const QString& objectName) {
   QJsonDocument jsonDoc;
   QJsonObject rootObject;
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ QJsonArray JsonParser::extractItemArray(const QByteArray& jsonData, const QStrin
   return itemArray;
 }
 
-QHash<int, QVariant> JsonParser::jsonObjectToItemValues(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject) {
-  QHash<int, QVariant> values;
+ModelItemValues JsonParser::jsonObjectToItemValues(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject) {
+  ModelItemValues values;
 
   QListIterator<UserRoles> i(USER_FACING_ROLES);
   while (i.hasNext()) {
diff --git a/formats/jsonparser.h b/formats/jsonparser.h
index 702414d..be0fc6a 100644
--- a/formats/jsonparser.h
+++ b/formats/jsonparser.h
@@ -8,20 +8,22 @@ class QString;
 class QByteArray;
 class QJsonArray;
 
+typedef QHash<int, QVariant> ModelItemValues;
+
 using namespace std;
 
 class JsonParser {
  public:
-  static QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> toItemValuesList(const QByteArray& jsonData,
-                                                      const QString& objectName = "");
-  static QByteArray itemValuesListToJson(const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>>& itemValuesList,
+  static QList<ModelItemValues> toItemValuesList(const QByteArray& jsonData,
+                                                 const QString& objectName = "");
+  static QByteArray itemValuesListToJson(const QList<ModelItemValues>& itemValuesList,
                                          const QString& objectName = "");
 
  private:
   explicit JsonParser();
 
   static QJsonArray extractItemArray(const QByteArray& jsonData, const QString& objectName);
-  static QHash<int, QVariant> jsonObjectToItemValues(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject);
+  static ModelItemValues jsonObjectToItemValues(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject);
 
   static pair<int, QVariant> getKeyValuePair(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject, const int role);
 };
diff --git a/genericcore.cpp b/genericcore.cpp
index 86459f5..34ef9dd 100644
--- a/genericcore.cpp
+++ b/genericcore.cpp
@@ -76,12 +76,10 @@ bool GenericCore::isApplicationUpdateAvailable() {
   return true;
 }
 
-void GenericCore::triggerApplicationUpdate() {
-  // TODO include cleaness of undo stack
-  // if (!m_undoStack->isClean()) {
-  //   saveItems();
-  // }
-  //  QStringList args("update componentA componentB");
+void GenericCore::triggerApplicationUpdate(const bool saveChanges) {
+  if (saveChanges && !m_modelUndoStack->isClean()) {
+    saveItems();
+  }
   QStringList args("--start-updater");
   QString toolFilePath = getMaintenanceToolFilePath();
   QProcess::startDetached(toolFilePath, args);
@@ -101,8 +99,6 @@ void GenericCore::saveItems() {
   const QJsonDocument doc   = m_mainModel->getAllItemsAsJsonDoc();
   const bool successfulSave = FileHandler::saveToFile(doc, ITEM_FILE_NAME);
   if (successfulSave) {
-    //    QStringList completedTaskStrings = m_model->completedTasks();
-    //    appendCompletedTasksToFile(completedTaskStrings, "completed.txt");
     m_modelUndoStack->setClean();
     emit displayStatusMessage(QString("Items saved."));
   } else {
@@ -110,6 +106,26 @@ void GenericCore::saveItems() {
   }
 }
 
+void GenericCore::importCSVFile(const QString& filePath) {
+  qInfo() << "importing items from CSV...";
+  qDebug() << "filePath:" << filePath;
+  const QList<ModelItemValues> itemValuesList = FileHandler::getItemValuesFromCSVFile(filePath);
+  // NEXT inform UI on errors
+  if (itemValuesList.isEmpty()) {
+    qDebug() << "No items found. Doing nothing...";
+    return;
+  }
+  // qDebug() << "CSV file content:" << itemValuesList;
+  m_mainModel->insertItems(m_mainModel->rowCount(), itemValuesList);
+}
+
+bool GenericCore::exportCSVFile(const QString& filePath) {
+  qInfo() << "exporting items to CSV...";
+  qDebug() << "filePath:" << filePath;
+  const QList<QStringList> itemsAsStringLists = m_mainModel->getItemsAsStringLists();
+  return FileHandler::exportToCSVFile(itemsAsStringLists, filePath);
+}
+
 void GenericCore::setupModels() {
   m_mainModel = make_shared<TableModel>(m_modelUndoStack, this);
   // TODO add QAbstractItemModelTester
diff --git a/genericcore.h b/genericcore.h
index 671ded1..b25135c 100644
--- a/genericcore.h
+++ b/genericcore.h
@@ -20,12 +20,14 @@ class GenericCore : public QObject {
   void sayHello() const;
 
   bool isApplicationUpdateAvailable();
-  void triggerApplicationUpdate();
+  void triggerApplicationUpdate(const bool saveChanges);
 
   QUndoStack* getModelUndoStack() const;
   std::shared_ptr<TableModel> getModel() const;
 
   void saveItems();
+  void importCSVFile(const QString& filePath);
+  bool exportCSVFile(const QString& filePath);
 
  signals:
   void displayStatusMessage(QString message);
diff --git a/model/commands/insertrowscommand.cpp b/model/commands/insertrowscommand.cpp
index 231ce29..99f25d7 100644
--- a/model/commands/insertrowscommand.cpp
+++ b/model/commands/insertrowscommand.cpp
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 #include "../tablemodel.h"
 
 InsertRowsCommand::InsertRowsCommand(TableModel* model,
-                                   int startRow,
-                                   QList<QHash<int, QVariant> > valueList,
-                                   QUndoCommand* parent)
+                                     int startRow,
+                                     QList<ModelItemValues> valueList,
+                                     QUndoCommand* parent)
     : QUndoCommand(parent)
     , m_tableModel(model)
     , m_startRow(startRow)
diff --git a/model/commands/insertrowscommand.h b/model/commands/insertrowscommand.h
index 0341226..ddc5617 100644
--- a/model/commands/insertrowscommand.h
+++ b/model/commands/insertrowscommand.h
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 #include <QUndoCommand>
 
+typedef QHash<int, QVariant> ModelItemValues;
+
 class TableModel;
 
 class InsertRowsCommand : public QUndoCommand {
@@ -11,9 +13,9 @@ class InsertRowsCommand : public QUndoCommand {
   /// Using simple pointer to model because there was a crash when closing the application with an
   /// unclean undo stack
   InsertRowsCommand(TableModel* model,
-                   int startRow,
-                   QList<QHash<int, QVariant> > valueList,
-                   QUndoCommand* parent = nullptr);
+                    int startRow,
+                    QList<ModelItemValues> valueList,
+                    QUndoCommand* parent = nullptr);
 
   /// QUndoCommand interface
   void undo() override;
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@ class InsertRowsCommand : public QUndoCommand {
  private:
   TableModel* m_tableModel;
   const int m_startRow;
-  const QList<QHash<int, QVariant> > m_valueList;
+  const QList<ModelItemValues> m_valueList;
 };
 
 #endif  // INSERTROWSCOMMAND_H
diff --git a/model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp b/model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp
index 487a916..2e2a026 100644
--- a/model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp
+++ b/model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ RemoveRowsCommand::RemoveRowsCommand(TableModel* model,
     const int rowPosition = startRow + row;
     QModelIndex index     = m_tableModel->index(rowPosition, 0);
 
-    QHash<int, QVariant> values = m_tableModel->getItemValues(index);
+    ModelItemValues values = m_tableModel->getItemValues(index);
 
     m_valueList.append(values);
   }
diff --git a/model/commands/removerowscommand.h b/model/commands/removerowscommand.h
index 308f78b..6703aab 100644
--- a/model/commands/removerowscommand.h
+++ b/model/commands/removerowscommand.h
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 
 class TableModel;
 
+typedef QHash<int, QVariant> ModelItemValues;
+
 class RemoveRowsCommand : public QUndoCommand {
  public:
   // TODO don't use simple pointer to model
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@ class RemoveRowsCommand : public QUndoCommand {
  private:
   TableModel* m_tableModel;
   const int m_startRow;
-  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> m_valueList;
+  QList<ModelItemValues> m_valueList;
 };
 
 #endif  // REMOVEROWSCOMMAND_H
diff --git a/model/metadata.h b/model/metadata.h
index 580d931..97f7d4d 100644
--- a/model/metadata.h
+++ b/model/metadata.h
@@ -50,5 +50,13 @@ static int GET_ROLE_FOR_COLUMN(const int column) {
       break;
   }
 }
+static QList<QString> GET_HEADER_NAMES() {
+  QList<QString> result;
+  for (const UserRoles& role : USER_FACING_ROLES) {
+    const QString headerName = ROLE_NAMES.value(role);
+    result.append(headerName);
+  }
+  return result;
+}
 
 #endif  // METADATA_H
diff --git a/model/modelitem.cpp b/model/modelitem.cpp
index 7abf6bf..32bc401 100644
--- a/model/modelitem.cpp
+++ b/model/modelitem.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <QJsonObject>
 #include <QJsonValue>
 
-ModelItem::ModelItem(const QHash<int, QVariant> values)
+ModelItem::ModelItem(const ModelItemValues values)
     : m_values(values) {}
 
 QVariant ModelItem::data(int role) const { return m_values.value(role); }
diff --git a/model/modelitem.h b/model/modelitem.h
index 2f3e037..9078c33 100644
--- a/model/modelitem.h
+++ b/model/modelitem.h
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 
 #include <QVariant>
 
+typedef QHash<int, QVariant> ModelItemValues;
+
 class ModelItem {
  public:
-  ModelItem(const QHash<int, QVariant> values);
+  ModelItem(const ModelItemValues values);
 
   QVariant data(int role) const;
   bool setData(const QVariant& value, int role);
diff --git a/model/tablemodel.cpp b/model/tablemodel.cpp
index 2ae6cdf..4895e9a 100644
--- a/model/tablemodel.cpp
+++ b/model/tablemodel.cpp
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ bool TableModel::setItemData(const QModelIndex& index, const QMap<int, QVariant>
   return false;
 }
 
-QHash<int, QVariant> TableModel::getItemValues(const QModelIndex& index) const {
-  QHash<int, QVariant> values;
+ModelItemValues TableModel::getItemValues(const QModelIndex& index) const {
+  ModelItemValues values;
 
   QListIterator<UserRoles> i(USER_FACING_ROLES);
   while (i.hasNext()) {
@@ -146,6 +146,19 @@ QJsonDocument TableModel::getAllItemsAsJsonDoc() const {
   return doc;
 }
 
+QList<QStringList> TableModel::getItemsAsStringLists() const {
+  QList<QStringList> result;
+  foreach (shared_ptr<ModelItem> item, m_items) {
+    QStringList valueList;
+    for (int column = 0; column < columnCount(); ++column) {
+      QString value = item->data(GET_ROLE_FOR_COLUMN(column)).toString();
+      valueList.append(value);
+    }
+    result.append(valueList);
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
 bool TableModel::removeRows(int firstRow, int nRows, const QModelIndex& parentIndex) {
   if (parentIndex != QModelIndex()) {
     qWarning() << "Removing of child rows is not supported yet!";
@@ -169,22 +182,29 @@ void TableModel::appendItems(const QByteArray& jsonDoc) { insertItems(-1, jsonDo
 void TableModel::insertItems(int startPosition,
                              const QByteArray& jsonDoc,
                              const QModelIndex& parentIndex) {
+  const QList<ModelItemValues> valueList = JsonParser::toItemValuesList(jsonDoc, ITEM_KEY_STRING);
+
+  insertItems(startPosition, valueList, parentIndex);
+}
+
+void TableModel::insertItems(int startPosition,
+                             const QList<ModelItemValues>& itemValuesList,
+                             const QModelIndex& parentIndex) {
   qInfo() << "Inserting item(s) into model...";
   if (parentIndex != QModelIndex()) {
-    qWarning() << "Using invalid parent index (no child support for now)";
+    qWarning()
+        << "Using invalid parent index (no child support for now)! Using root index as parent...";
   }
   if (startPosition == -1 || startPosition > m_items.size()) {
     /// Appending item(s)
     startPosition = m_items.size();
   }
 
-  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList = JsonParser::toItemValuesList(jsonDoc, ITEM_KEY_STRING);
-
-  InsertRowsCommand* insertCommand = new InsertRowsCommand(this, startPosition, valueList);
+  InsertRowsCommand* insertCommand = new InsertRowsCommand(this, startPosition, itemValuesList);
   m_undoStack->push(insertCommand);
 }
 
-void TableModel::execInsertItems(const int firstRow, const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList) {
+void TableModel::execInsertItems(const int firstRow, const QList<ModelItemValues> valueList) {
   const int nRows = valueList.size();
   qDebug() << "Inserting" << nRows << "items...";
 
diff --git a/model/tablemodel.h b/model/tablemodel.h
index c7650f2..4bd2dcd 100644
--- a/model/tablemodel.h
+++ b/model/tablemodel.h
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ class ModelItem;
 
 using namespace std;
 
+typedef QHash<int, QVariant> ModelItemValues;
+
 class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   Q_OBJECT
 
@@ -32,8 +34,9 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   bool setData(const QModelIndex& index, const QVariant& value, int role) override;
   bool setItemData(const QModelIndex& index, const QMap<int, QVariant>& roles) override;
 
-  QHash<int, QVariant> getItemValues(const QModelIndex& index) const;
+  ModelItemValues getItemValues(const QModelIndex& index) const;
   QJsonDocument getAllItemsAsJsonDoc() const;
+  QList<QStringList> getItemsAsStringLists() const;
 
  public slots:
   // bool insertRows(int position, int rows, const QModelIndex& parentIndex = QModelIndex())
@@ -43,6 +46,9 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   void insertItems(int startPosition,
                    const QByteArray& jsonDoc,
                    const QModelIndex& parentIndex = QModelIndex());
+  void insertItems(int startPosition,
+                   const QList<ModelItemValues>& itemValuesList,
+                   const QModelIndex& parentIndex = QModelIndex());
 
  private:
   /// *** members ***
@@ -52,7 +58,7 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
 
   /// *** functions ***
   /// undo/redo functions
-  void execInsertItems(const int firstRow, const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList);
+  void execInsertItems(const int firstRow, const QList<ModelItemValues> valueList);
   void execRemoveItems(const int firstRow, const int nRows);
   void execEditItemData(const int row, const QMap<int, QVariant>& changedValues);