Why is it so freaking hard to import new contacts with excel?

Jenny Claeys

I need a very simplified "How to Import using a .csv file" instructions.  I don't have time to scour through a 98 page import PDF, nor do I have time to hand type 425 new contacts, even through the "Batch" option.

The instructions I do find are about as clear as mud.  This should be set up to be fairly easy, and yet...  I keep trying, and every time I think I've included everything I need to, I keep getting yet another 425 entry exception report.  The newest one says "Invalid Boolean" for the Primary Addressee, which has first and last name of the constituent.

Seriously, HELP!!

Jenny C.

JoAnn Strommen

Jenny Claeys:

I need a very simplified "How to Import using a .csv file" instructions.  I don't have time to scour through a 98 page import PDF, nor do I have time to hand type 425 new contacts, even through the "Batch" option.

The instructions I do find are about as clear as mud.  This should be set up to be fairly easy, and yet...  I keep trying, and every time I think I've included everything I need to, I keep getting yet another 425 entry exception report.  The newest one says "Invalid Boolean" for the Primary Addressee, which has first and last name of the constituent.

Seriously, HELP!!

Jenny C.

 Jenny,

Do you have access to BB support?  As there are so many factors as you've found out in using import a support person I think would be your best help.  They may be able to a screen share with you.

The error message is probably caused by an invalid value for your addressee.

Imports are not my favorite function but once you get it, the time it saves is immense.  Don't give up!!

Aldera Chisholm

Jenny Claeys:

I need a very simplified "How to Import using a .csv file" instructions.  I don't have time to scour through a 98 page import PDF, nor do I have time to hand type 425 new contacts, even through the "Batch" option.

The instructions I do find are about as clear as mud.  This should be set up to be fairly easy, and yet...  I keep trying, and every time I think I've included everything I need to, I keep getting yet another 425 entry exception report.  The newest one says "Invalid Boolean" for the Primary Addressee, which has first and last name of the constituent.

Seriously, HELP!!

Jenny C.

Yes, I had support walk me through using shared screen to do my first import, now I just use that same one each time as my template. If that is not an option for you, I have attached my import template, and you can at least see if there are any differences which could give you some help. I generally am importing new constituent name, address and email address, so it may not fit your needs exactly. Aldera

JoAnn Strommen

JoAnn Strommen:

 Jenny,

Do you have access to BB support?  As there are so many factors as you've found out in using import a support person I think would be your best help.  They may be able to a screen share with you.

The error message is probably caused by an invalid value for your addressee.

Imports are not my favorite function but once you get it, the time it saves is immense.  Don't give up!!

 Have you had success yet?  For the addressee part of the import do you have Primary Address ID Number with the data in the field being the "Numeric ID number of the add/sal formula as set up in configuration"?  That's the tricky part of add/sals.

Side note, do the extra work to enter what you want for contact add/sal in your import as those add/sal can not be added through global add.   

Also, if you enter all of these as constituents in batch you would still have to go through and make all the links to your orgs and you may not even want them all to have their own constituent record. 

 

Andee McCall

JoAnn Strommen:

 Have you had success yet?  For the addressee part of the import do you have Primary Address ID Number with the data in the field being the "Numeric ID number of the add/sal formula as set up in configuration"?  That's the tricky part of add/sals.

Side note, do the extra work to enter what you want for contact add/sal in your import as those add/sal can not be added through global add.   

Also, if you enter all of these as constituents in batch you would still have to go through and make all the links to your orgs and you may not even want them all to have their own constituent record. 

 

 

I feel like I have hit the holy grail of figuring out how to do an import. I've been working intermittently on importing our new freshman class since August. Lots of stuff going on this fall - and it wasn't really urgent - so I took my time.

I just created a constituent batch and entered all items that I need in my file

rtrachsel@lalgbtcenter.org

Jenny Claeys:

I need a very simplified "How to Import using a .csv file" instructions.  I don't have time to scour through a 98 page import PDF, nor do I have time to hand type 425 new contacts, even through the "Batch" option.

The instructions I do find are about as clear as mud.  This should be set up to be fairly easy, and yet...  I keep trying, and every time I think I've included everything I need to, I keep getting yet another 425 entry exception report.  The newest one says "Invalid Boolean" for the Primary Addressee, which has first and last name of the constituent.

Seriously, HELP!!

Jenny C.

This is why we purchased Importomatics. It is so worth the money and saves us so much time. It isn't an official blackbaud product but actually integrates seamlessly!

Wendy Whitmire

Jenny Claeys:

I need a very simplified "How to Import using a .csv file" instructions.  I don't have time to scour through a 98 page import PDF, nor do I have time to hand type 425 new contacts, even through the "Batch" option.

The instructions I do find are about as clear as mud.  This should be set up to be fairly easy, and yet...  I keep trying, and every time I think I've included everything I need to, I keep getting yet another 425 entry exception report.  The newest one says "Invalid Boolean" for the Primary Addressee, which has first and last name of the constituent.

Seriously, HELP!!

Jenny C.

I hope you have received some assistance on this project. My first import was very complicated and it required more than one call to support but they were very helpful. Once you get used to the required fields to complete an import that are not already part of your .csv, life gets easier. It is also helpful to know that RE requires you to import some data in phases. You may want to import new constituents and gifts. Although your .csv may contain all the necessary information, RE will not allow you to perform this operation in one step. You must create the constituents first - logical thinking to the system, and then import the gifts. Best of luck.