Preparing to Import Files
We recommend using comma-delimited (.CSV) files which can be created from Excel spreadsheet files.
Import File Guidelines
- Files to be imported should be located on the same drive on which the import is being done.
- Make sure you have data in all validated fields. See Field Definitions. Validated fields are marked with an asterisk.
- Fields must follow exact order by field position. See Field Definitions for file layouts. If no value is needed, use commas or tabs for the exact number of fields required. Example: AARONFIT0001,PRIMARY,,,,,,,,,, (Excel adds the additional commas for blank cells when the file is saved as ".CSV.")
- If a field contains a comma, the entire field must be surrounded by quotation marks or separated by tabs. For example, XYZ Company, Inc. must be entered as: ,"XYZ Company, Inc.",,, or it will be interpreted as two fields. The use of a tab-delimited file will also avoid this error.
- Fields should only be padded with spaces at the end or right side.
- Currency fields must be in the following format: 000.00 or +0000001000.00 Don't use commas or currency symbols. Use two decimal digits. Signs (- or +) must be leading, if used.
Date fields must be in any of the following formats:
MM/DD/YYYY
07/06/1999 or 7/6/1999
MM/DD/YY
07/06/99 or 7/6/99
DD/MM/YYYY
30/03/1999 or 30/3/1999
DD/MM/YY
30/03/99 or 30/3/99
Date fields must match the setting in Setup > Import Setup.
- Time fields must be in military format. For example, use 153000 to designate 15 hours, 30 minutes, 0 seconds or 3:30 p.m. Use: HourMinuteSecond A blank time field will result in 12:00 a.m.
- Check Box fields must be in the following format: 0 = false (unmarked) or 1 = true (marked)
- Boolean fields must be in the following format: 0 = false or 1 = true
- Phone numbers should be in the following format: 41482141000000 List the area code, 7 digit phone number, and 4 digit extension. Don't use dashes or parentheses.
- Integers must be in the following format: 550 (= 5.50) or 500 (= 5.00) Don't use decimal points.
- Percentages must be in the following format: 0.065 (= 6.5%) or 0.1 (= 10%)