diff --git a/app/assets/images/import-example.png b/app/assets/images/import-example.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3f013d58
Binary files /dev/null and b/app/assets/images/import-example.png differ
diff --git a/app/assets/images/import.png b/app/assets/images/import.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5c66e984
Binary files /dev/null and b/app/assets/images/import.png differ
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.Erb.js.erb b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.Erb.js.erb
index e8f3a25b..916d175a 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.Erb.js.erb
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.Erb.js.erb
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ Metamaps.Erb['icons/wildcard.png'] = '<%= asset_path('icons/wildcard.png') %>'
 Metamaps.Erb['topic_description_signifier.png'] = '<%= asset_path('topic_description_signifier.png') %>'
 Metamaps.Erb['topic_link_signifier.png'] = '<%= asset_path('topic_link_signifier.png') %>'
 Metamaps.Erb['synapse16.png'] = '<%= asset_path('synapse16.png') %>'
+Metamaps.Erb['import-example.png'] = '<%= asset_path('import-example.png') %>'
 Metamaps.Erb['sounds/MM_sounds.mp3'] = '<%= asset_path 'sounds/MM_sounds.mp3' %>'
 Metamaps.Erb['sounds/MM_sounds.ogg'] = '<%= asset_path 'sounds/MM_sounds.ogg' %>'
 Metamaps.Metacodes = <%= Metacode.all.to_json.gsub(%r[(icon.*?)(\"},)], '\1?purple=stupid\2').html_safe %>
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css.erb b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.scss.erb
similarity index 99%
rename from app/assets/stylesheets/application.css.erb
rename to app/assets/stylesheets/application.scss.erb
index 97276b9f..e4e7762e 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css.erb
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.scss.erb
@@ -1526,9 +1526,8 @@ h3.filterBox {
     background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('permissions32_sprite.png') %>);
 }
 /* map info box */
-/* map info box */
 
-.wrapper div.mapInfoBox {
+.wrapper .mapInfoBox {
     display: none;
     position: absolute;
     bottom: 40px;
@@ -1536,12 +1535,34 @@ h3.filterBox {
     background-color: #424242;
     color: #F5F5F5;
     border-radius: 2px;
+    box-shadow: 0 3px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.23), 0px 3px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.16);
+    text-align: center;
+    font-style: normal;
+}
+.import-dialog{
+  button {
+    margin: 1em 0.5em;
+  }
+  .import-blue-button {
+    display: inline-block;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+    margin: 0.75em;
+    padding: 0.75em;
+    height: 3em;
+    background-color: #AAB0FB;
+    border-radius: 0.3em;
+    color: white;
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+  .fileupload {
+    width: 75%;
+    text-align: center;
+  }
+}
+.wrapper .mapInfoBox {
     width: 360px;
     min-height: 300px;
     padding: 0;
-    font-style: normal;
-    text-align: center;
-    box-shadow: 0 3px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.23), 0px 3px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.16);
 }
 .requestTitle {
     display: none;
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/clean.css.erb b/app/assets/stylesheets/clean.css.erb
index b41f14ca..deb2719f 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/clean.css.erb
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/clean.css.erb
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@
 .upperRightIcon {
     width: 32px;
     height: 32px;
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('topright_sprite.png') %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path('topright_sprite.png') %>);
     background-repeat: no-repeat;
     cursor: pointer;
 }
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@
 }
 
 .fullWidthWrapper.withPartners {
-    background: url(<%= asset_data_uri('homepage_bg_fade.png') %>) no-repeat center -300px;
+    background: url(<%= asset_path('homepage_bg_fade.png') %>) no-repeat center -300px;
 }
 .homeWrapper.homePartners {
     padding: 64px 0 280px;
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@
     cursor: pointer;
 }
 .openCheatsheet {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('help_sprite.png') %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path('help_sprite.png') %>);
     background-repeat:no-repeat;
 }
 .openCheatsheet:hover {
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@
 .mapInfoIcon {
 	position: relative;
 	top: 56px; /* puts it just offscreen */
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('mapinfo_sprite.png') %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path('mapinfo_sprite.png') %>);
     background-repeat:no-repeat;
 }
 .mapInfoIcon:hover {
@@ -382,8 +382,14 @@
 .mapPage .mapInfoIcon {
 	top: 0;
 }
+.importDialog {
+  background-image: url(<%= asset_path('import.png') %>);
+  background-position: 0 0;
+  background-repeat: no-repeat;
+  width: 32px;
+}
 .starMap {
-  background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('starmap_sprite.png') %>);
+  background-image: url(<%= asset_path('starmap_sprite.png') %>);
   background-position: 0 0;
   background-repeat: no-repeat;
   width: 32px;
@@ -437,7 +443,7 @@
 .takeScreenshot {
     margin-bottom: 5px;
     border-radius: 2px;
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri 'screenshot_sprite.png' %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path 'screenshot_sprite.png' %>);
     display: none;
 }
 .takeScreenshot:hover {
@@ -450,7 +456,7 @@
 .zoomExtents {
     margin-bottom:5px;
     border-radius: 2px;
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('extents_sprite.png') %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path('extents_sprite.png') %>);
 }
 
 .zoomExtents:hover {
@@ -458,7 +464,7 @@
 }
 
 .zoomExtents:hover .tooltips, .zoomIn:hover .tooltips, .zoomOut:hover .tooltips, .takeScreenshot:hover .tooltips, .sidebarFilterIcon:hover .tooltipsUnder, .sidebarForkIcon:hover .tooltipsUnder, .addMap:hover .tooltipsUnder, .authenticated .sidebarAccountIcon:hover .tooltipsUnder,
- .mapInfoIcon:hover .tooltipsAbove, .openCheatsheet:hover .tooltipsAbove, .chat-button:hover .tooltips, .starMap:hover .tooltipsAbove, .openMetacodeSwitcher:hover .tooltipsAbove, .pinCarousel:not(.isPinned):hover .tooltipsAbove.helpPin, .pinCarousel.isPinned:hover .tooltipsAbove.helpUnpin  {
+ .mapInfoIcon:hover .tooltipsAbove, .openCheatsheet:hover .tooltipsAbove, .chat-button:hover .tooltips, importDialog:hover .tooltipsAbove, .starMap:hover .tooltipsAbove, .openMetacodeSwitcher:hover .tooltipsAbove, .pinCarousel:not(.isPinned):hover .tooltipsAbove.helpPin, .pinCarousel.isPinned:hover .tooltipsAbove.helpUnpin  {
     display: block;
 }
 
@@ -623,7 +629,7 @@
 }
 
 .zoomIn {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('zoom_sprite.png') %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path('zoom_sprite.png') %>);
     background-position: 0 /…0;
     border-top-left-radius: 2px;
     border-top-right-radius: 2px;
@@ -632,7 +638,7 @@
     background-position: -32px 0;
 }
 .zoomOut {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('zoom_sprite.png') %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path('zoom_sprite.png') %>);
     background-position:0 -32px;
     border-bottom-left-radius: 2px;
     border-bottom-right-radius: 2px;
@@ -740,23 +746,23 @@
     left:5px;
 }
 .exploreMapsCenter .myMaps .exploreMapsIcon {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
     background-position: -32px 0;
 }
 .exploreMapsCenter .sharedMaps .exploreMapsIcon {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
     background-position: -128px 0;
 }
 .exploreMapsCenter .activeMaps .exploreMapsIcon {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
     background-position: 0 0;
 }
 .exploreMapsCenter .featuredMaps .exploreMapsIcon {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
     background-position: -96px 0;
 }
 .exploreMapsCenter .starredMaps .exploreMapsIcon {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_path 'exploremaps_sprite.png' %>);
     background-position: -96px 0;
 }
 .myMaps:hover .exploreMapsIcon, .myMaps.active .exploreMapsIcon {
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/mobile.scss.erb b/app/assets/stylesheets/mobile.scss.erb
index cf416e37..a646fea4 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/mobile.scss.erb
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/mobile.scss.erb
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     width: 100%;
   }
   
-  .wrapper div.mapInfoBox {
+  .wrapper .mapInfoBox {
     position: fixed;
     top: 50px;
     right: 0px;
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/_lowermapelements.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/_lowermapelements.html.erb
index fe120219..b8b7f868 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/_lowermapelements.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/_lowermapelements.html.erb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 <div class="infoAndHelp">
 	<%= render :partial => 'maps/mapinfobox' %>
 
+  <div class="importDialog infoElement mapElement openLightbox" data-open="import-dialog-lightbox"><div class="tooltipsAbove">Import data</div></div>
     <% starred = current_user && @map && current_user.starred_map?(@map)
        starClass = starred ? 'starred' : ''
        tooltip = starred ? 'Star' : 'Unstar'  %> 
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ImportDialog.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ImportDialog.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3671cd90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ImportDialog.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import React from 'react'
+import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
+import outdent from 'outdent'
+
+import ImportDialogBox from '../../components/ImportDialogBox'
+
+import PasteInput from '../PasteInput'
+
+const ImportDialog = {
+  openLightbox: null,
+  closeLightbox: null,
+
+  init: function(serverData, openLightbox, closeLightbox) {
+    const self = ImportDialog
+    self.openLightbox = openLightbox
+    self.closeLightbox = closeLightbox
+
+    $('#lightbox_content').append($(outdent`
+      <div class="lightboxContent" id="import-dialog-lightbox">
+        <div class="importDialogWrapper" />
+      </div>
+    `))
+    ReactDOM.render(React.createElement(ImportDialogBox, {
+      onFileAdded: PasteInput.handleFile,
+      exampleImageUrl: serverData['import-example.png'],
+    }), $('.importDialogWrapper').get(0))
+  },
+  show: function() {
+    self.openLightbox('import-dialog')
+  },
+  hide: function() {
+    self.closeLightbox('import-dialog')
+  }
+}
+
+export default ImportDialog
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/index.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/index.js
index 3b16375e..4eb29bb7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/index.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import Create from '../Create'
 import Search from './Search'
 import CreateMap from './CreateMap'
 import Account from './Account'
+import ImportDialog from './ImportDialog'
 
 /*
  * Metamaps.Backbone
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ const GlobalUI = {
     self.Search.init()
     self.CreateMap.init()
     self.Account.init()
+    self.ImportDialog.init(Metamaps.Erb, self.openLightbox, self.closeLightbox)
 
     if ($('#toast').html().trim()) self.notifyUser($('#toast').html())
 
@@ -141,5 +143,5 @@ const GlobalUI = {
   }
 }
 
-export { Search, CreateMap, Account }
+export { Search, CreateMap, Account, ImportDialog }
 export default GlobalUI
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Import.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Import.js
index f70a1290..05d762e5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Import.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Import.js
@@ -411,6 +411,7 @@ const Import = {
     newKey = newKey.replace(/\s/g, '') // remove whitespace
     if (newKey === 'url') newKey = 'link'
     if (newKey === 'title') newKey = 'name'
+    if (newKey === 'label') newKey = 'desc'
     if (newKey === 'description') newKey = 'desc'
     if (newKey === 'direction') newKey = 'category'
     return newKey
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/index.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/index.js
index 4c2f78bb..7d7322fc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/index.js
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 /* global Metamaps, $ */
 
 import outdent from 'outdent'
+import React from 'react'
+import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
 
 import Active from '../Active'
 import AutoLayout from '../AutoLayout'
@@ -40,6 +42,12 @@ const Map = {
   init: function () {
     var self = Map
 
+    // prevent right clicks on the main canvas, so as to not get in the way of our right clicks
+    $('#wrapper').on('contextmenu', function (e) {
+      return false
+    })
+
+
     $('.starMap').click(function () {
       if ($(this).is('.starred')) self.unstar()
       else self.star()
@@ -52,7 +60,7 @@ const Map = {
     GlobalUI.CreateMap.emptyForkMapForm = $('#fork_map').html()
 
     self.updateStar()
-    self.InfoBox.init()
+    InfoBox.init()
     CheatSheet.init()
 
     $(document).on(Map.events.editedByActiveMapper, self.editedByActiveMapper)
@@ -102,7 +110,7 @@ const Map = {
       Selected.reset()
 
       // set the proper mapinfobox content
-      Map.InfoBox.load()
+      InfoBox.load()
 
       // these three update the actual filter box with the right list items
       Filter.checkMetacodes()
@@ -132,7 +140,7 @@ const Map = {
       Create.newTopic.hide(true) // true means force (and override pinned)
       Create.newSynapse.hide()
       Filter.close()
-      Map.InfoBox.close()
+      InfoBox.close()
       Realtime.endActiveMap()
     }
   },
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/PasteInput.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/PasteInput.js
index 6f1cc03f..51d4a933 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/PasteInput.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/PasteInput.js
@@ -21,16 +21,7 @@ const PasteInput = {
       e.preventDefault();
       var coords = Util.pixelsToCoords({ x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY })
       if (e.dataTransfer.files.length > 0) {
-        var fileReader = new window.FileReader()
-        fileReader.readAsText(e.dataTransfer.files[0])
-        fileReader.onload = function(e) {
-          var text = e.currentTarget.result
-          if (text.substring(0,5) === '<?xml') {
-            // assume this is a macOS .webloc link
-            text = text.replace(/[\s\S]*<string>(.*)<\/string>[\s\S]*/m, '$1')
-          }
-          self.handle(text, coords)
-        }
+        self.handleFile(e.dataTransfer.files[0], coords)
       }
       // OMG import bookmarks 😍
       if (e.dataTransfer.items.length > 0) {
@@ -52,7 +43,21 @@ const PasteInput = {
     })
   },
 
-  handle: function(text, coords) {
+  handleFile: (file, coords = null) => {
+    var self = PasteInput
+    var fileReader = new FileReader()
+    fileReader.readAsText(file)
+    fileReader.onload = function(e) {
+      var text = e.currentTarget.result
+      if (text.substring(0,5) === '<?xml') {
+        // assume this is a macOS .webloc link
+        text = text.replace(/[\s\S]*<string>(.*)<\/string>[\s\S]*/m, '$1')
+      }
+      self.handle(text, coords)
+    }
+  },
+
+  handle: function(text, coords = null) {
     var self = PasteInput
 
     if (text.match(self.URL_REGEX)) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/index.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/index.js
index d179713e..44bbfdb6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/index.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import Create from './Create'
 import Debug from './Debug'
 import Filter from './Filter'
 import GlobalUI, {
-  Search, CreateMap, Account as GlobalUI_Account
+  Search, CreateMap, ImportDialog, Account as GlobalUI_Account
 } from './GlobalUI'
 import Import from './Import'
 import JIT from './JIT'
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ Metamaps.GlobalUI = GlobalUI
 Metamaps.GlobalUI.Search = Search
 Metamaps.GlobalUI.CreateMap = CreateMap
 Metamaps.GlobalUI.Account = GlobalUI_Account
+Metamaps.GlobalUI.ImportDialog = ImportDialog
 Metamaps.Import = Import
 Metamaps.JIT = JIT
 Metamaps.Listeners = Listeners
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ImportDialogBox.js b/frontend/src/components/ImportDialogBox.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4d113ccc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ImportDialogBox.js
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+import React, { PropTypes, Component } from 'react'
+import Dropzone from 'react-dropzone'
+
+class ImportDialogBox extends Component {
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props)
+
+    this.state = {
+      showImportInstructions: false
+    }
+  }
+
+  handleExport = format => () => {
+    window.open(`${window.location.pathname}/export.${format}`, '_blank')
+  }
+
+  handleFile = (files, e) => {
+    // for some reason it uploads twice, so we need this debouncer
+    this.debouncer = this.debouncer || window.setTimeout(() => this.debouncer = null, 10)
+    if (!this.debouncer) {
+      this.props.onFileAdded(files[0])
+    }
+  }
+
+  toggleShowInstructions = e => {
+    this.setState({
+      showImportInstructions: !this.state.showImportInstructions
+    })
+  }
+
+  render = () => {
+    return (
+      <div className="import-dialog">
+        <h3>EXPORT</h3>
+        <div className="import-blue-button" onClick={this.handleExport('csv')}>
+          Export as CSV
+        </div>
+        <div className="import-blue-button" onClick={this.handleExport('json')}>
+          Export as JSON
+        </div>
+        <h3>IMPORT</h3>
+        <p>To upload a file, drop it here:</p>
+        <Dropzone onDropAccepted={this.handleFile}
+          className="import-blue-button fileupload"
+        >
+          Drop files here!
+        </Dropzone>
+        <p>
+          <a onClick={this.toggleShowInstructions} style={{ textDecoration: 'underline', cursor: 'pointer' }}>
+            Show/hide import instructions
+          </a>
+        </p>
+        {!this.state.showImportInstructions ? null : (<div>
+          <p>
+            You can import topics and synapses by uploading a spreadsheet here.
+            The file should be in comma-separated format (when you save, change the
+            filetype from .xls to .csv).
+          </p>
+          <img src={this.props.exampleImageUrl} style={{ maxWidth: '75%', float: 'right', margin: '1em' }}/>
+          <p style={{ marginTop: '1em' }}>You can choose which columns to include in your data. Topics must have a name field. Synapses must have Topic 1 and Topic 2.</p>
+          <p>&nbsp;</p>
+          <p> * There are many valid import formats. Try exporting a map to see what columns you can include in your import data. You can also copy-paste from Excel to import, or import JSON.</p>
+          <p> * If you are importing a list of links, you can use a Link column in place of the Name column.</p>
+        </div>)}
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+ImportDialogBox.propTypes = {
+  onFileAdded: PropTypes.func,
+  exampleImageUrl: PropTypes.string
+}
+
+export default ImportDialogBox
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c882fdd0..82cd120d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
     "outdent": "0.2.1",
     "react": "15.3.2",
     "react-dom": "15.3.2",
+    "react-dropzone": "3.6.0",
     "socket.io": "0.9.12",
     "webpack": "1.13.2"
   },