diff --git a/routes/upload.py b/routes/upload.py
index 59ef4af..27964f9 100644
--- a/routes/upload.py
+++ b/routes/upload.py
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@ from flask import Blueprint, request, render_template, redirect, session, flash
 from definitions.models import Asset, db
 from functions.process_csv import get_csv_data
 from functions.validate_values import validate_values
-from config import item_attributes
+from config import item_attributes, BrandingConfig
 from functions.auth import login_required
-from config import BrandingConfig
 
 upload_bp = Blueprint('uploadcsv', __name__)
 
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ def import_from_csv():
         )
 
     # Render the upload page for GET requests
-    return render_template('upload.html', mode="import", brandingconfig=BrandingConfig)
+    return render_template('upload.html', mode="import", item_attributes=item_attributes, brandingconfig=BrandingConfig)
 
 @upload_bp.route('/edit_using_csv/', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 @login_required
@@ -136,4 +135,35 @@ def edit_using_csv():
         )
 
     # Render the upload page for GET requests
-    return render_template('upload.html', mode="edit", brandingconfig=BrandingConfig)
\ No newline at end of file
+    return render_template('upload.html', mode="edit", item_attributes=item_attributes, brandingconfig=BrandingConfig)
+
+@upload_bp.route('/download_template/')
+@login_required
+def download_template():
+    """Generate and serve a CSV template"""
+    from io import StringIO
+    from csv import writer
+    
+    # Create in-memory CSV file
+    csv_data = StringIO()
+    csv_writer = writer(csv_data, delimiter='|')
+    
+    # Write headers
+    headers = [attrib.display_name for attrib in item_attributes]
+    csv_writer.writerow(headers)
+    
+    # Write example row with default values if available
+    example_row = []
+    for attrib in item_attributes:
+        if attrib.default_val is not None:
+            example_row.append(str(attrib.default_val))
+        else:
+            example_row.append(f"example_{attrib.attrib_name}")
+    csv_writer.writerow(example_row)
+    
+    # Prepare response
+    from flask import make_response
+    response = make_response(csv_data.getvalue())
+    response.headers['Content-Type'] = 'text/csv'
+    response.headers['Content-Disposition'] = 'attachment; filename=csv_sample.csv'
+    return response
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/upload.html b/templates/upload.html
index f063113..6486dc1 100644
--- a/templates/upload.html
+++ b/templates/upload.html
@@ -84,19 +84,32 @@
                                 CSV Format Help
                             </button>
                         </h2>
-                        <div id="helpContent" 
-                             class="accordion-collapse collapse" 
-                             data-bs-parent="#helpAccordion">
+                        <div id="helpContent" class="accordion-collapse collapse" data-bs-parent="#helpAccordion">
                             <div class="accordion-body">
-                                <!-- Add your CSV format instructions here -->
-                                <p>Your CSV should include the following columns:</p>
-                                <ul>
-                                    <li><code>id</code> - Required for edits</li>
-                                    <li><code>name</code> - Item name</li>
-                                    <!-- Add more columns as needed -->
+                                <p>Your CSV must include these columns (case-sensitive):</p>
+                                <ul class="list-unstyled">
+                                    {% for attrib in item_attributes %}
+                                    <li>
+                                        <code>{{ attrib.display_name }}</code>
+                                        {% if attrib.required %}<span class="badge bg-danger ms-2">Required</span>{% endif %}
+                                        {% if attrib.primary %}<span class="badge bg-primary ms-2">Primary</span>{% endif %}
+                                        {% if attrib.unique %}<span class="badge bg-warning text-dark ms-2">Unique</span>{% endif %}
+                                    </li>
+                                    {% endfor %}
                                 </ul>
-                                <a href="/sample.csv" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-primary">
-                                    Download Sample CSV
+                                <div class="alert alert-info mt-3">
+                                    <strong>Format requirements:</strong>
+                                    <ul class="mt-2 mb-0">
+                                        <li>Delimiter: <code>|</code> (pipe character)</li>
+                                        <li>First row must contain headers exactly as shown above</li>
+                                        {% if mode == "edit" %}
+                                        <li>Existing items must include their primary key value</li>
+                                        {% endif %}
+                                    </ul>
+                                </div>
+                                
+                                <a href="{{ url_for('uploadcsv.download_template') }}" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-primary mt-2">
+                                    <i class="bi bi-download me-1"></i>Download CSV Template
                                 </a>
                             </div>
                         </div>