Importing into Batch

Neeta Beepath 2 · February 2018

I am new to an organization that uses a lockbox. They would like to take the .csv file that is sent from the lockbox and import that into a batch. Is that possible? Will a plug-in like importomatic allow us to import into a batch? From my research, it does not look like that is possible -- the gifts could be imported directly into the donors records, but not into batch first. The benefit of having them go into batch first wold be to add tribute information, matching gift information, etc. Can anyone who uses a lockbox tell me their process? Thank you!

Marie Stark · February 2018

Neeta Beepath:

I am new to an organization that uses a lockbox. They would like to take the .csv file that is sent from the lockbox and import that into a batch. Is that possible? Will a plug-in like importomatic allow us to import into a batch? From my research, it does not look like that is possible -- the gifts could be imported directly into the donors records, but not into batch first. The benefit of having them go into batch first wold be to add tribute information, matching gift information, etc. Can anyone who uses a lockbox tell me their process? Thank you!

We have a lockbox. We import into a batch using ImportOmatic.

Claudia Sauers · February 2018

Neeta Beepath:

I am new to an organization that uses a lockbox. They would like to take the .csv file that is sent from the lockbox and import that into a batch. Is that possible? Will a plug-in like importomatic allow us to import into a batch? From my research, it does not look like that is possible -- the gifts could be imported directly into the donors records, but not into batch first. The benefit of having them go into batch first wold be to add tribute information, matching gift information, etc. Can anyone who uses a lockbox tell me their process? Thank you!

We import lockbox gifts directly into the donor records not a batch, we have formatted our import file so that we can add attributes etc.

Melissa S Graves · February 2018

ImportOMatic certainly does import directly to batch. I believe even the free version of Importacular (by Zeidmen Development) can do it as well.

Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE · February 2018

We also use IOM to import into a gift batch. Check this video (starting at 12 minutes 13 seconds) to see how it works: https://youtu.be/DzJVgIjv5rQ?t=12m13s

Jen Claudy · February 2018

ImportOMatic and Zeidman Development's Importacular will both import to a Batch. The Constituent Records to import are either matched to existing RE records or created by the plug in (either product) and then the gift data is placed in a Batch which you then review and commit to create the actual Gift Records.

Importacular is free for Constituent and Gift Records, other types of records (Actions, Relationships, etc.) would require a subscription. If you are Hosted by Blackbaud, the plug in is likely already available in the Plug-Ins area of RE.

Marguerite Gravois · March 2018

Jen Claudy:
ImportOMatic and Zeidman Development's Importacular will both import to a Batch. The Constituent Records to import are either matched to existing RE records or created by the plug in (either product) and then the gift data is placed in a Batch which you then review and commit to create the actual Gift Records.

Importacular is free for Constituent and Gift Records, other types of records (Actions, Relationships, etc.) would require a subscription. If you are Hosted by Blackbaud, the plug in is likely already available in the Plug-Ins area of RE.

We are hosted and have both Importacular and ImportOmatic listed in the Plug-Ins. Which do you recommend for which purpose?

Neeta Beepath 2 · March 2018

Thanks everyone!

Jen Claudy · March 2018

Marguerite,

The first step is to determine if your organization is already paying for one or the other. If so, I'd plan to use that one. If you have a free or trial version of both, then I'd try them both out and see which you like better. Both products should work for your needs, with a paid version, for entering constituents, gifts, tributes, matching gifts, etc.

Put together a set of dummy data to use, which you can then easily delete later. There are profiles to set up in both, and therefore a bit of a learning curve, so you will want to watch some of the available videos, as well. I've heard good things about customer support, so you may want to also reach out and start a conversation with one or both companies.

Importacular's free version will take care of constituents and gifts, but I believe you'd need to add tribute, matching gift, and other associated information once the gifts are in a Batch. Still a good place to start exploring the options.

Laureen Mendelero · September 2018

Jen Claudy:
ImportOMatic and Zeidman Development's Importacular will both import to a Batch. The Constituent Records to import are either matched to existing RE records or created by the plug in (either product) and then the gift data is placed in a Batch which you then review and commit to create the actual Gift Records.

Importacular is free for Constituent and Gift Records, other types of records (Actions, Relationships, etc.) would require a subscription. If you are Hosted by Blackbaud, the plug in is likely already available in the Plug-Ins area of RE.

Jen everyone I talk to says that importing into a batch isn't possible. What are they doing wrong?

Marie Stark · September 2018

In Importomatics., go to the settings for Gifts, and select "Import gifts to a batch".

Laureen Mendelero · September 2018

Marie Stark:

This is the option in Importomatics.

You have to have all of the data before you can import. We are trying to figure out how we can import a daily check log which would only contain the name, check number, and amount. Is there a way to import into a batch minimal information?

Marie Stark · September 2018

You would need the same information that is required when you enter a batch manually. We require Fund, appeal, campaign, letter code, and gift type. so those also need to be in the import.

If it is the same for every record you can use virtual fields for those.

Denise Hawks · October 2018

I have another question. We want to import into a batch, but many of our remits use a barcode to identify the constituent, appeal & package information.

How do I map this in Import O Matic?

Jen Claudy · October 2018

Sorry for a delay...between vacation, travel, and a heavier-than-normal workload recently, I've fallen behind on keeping up with the Community.

I use both IOM (ImportOMatic) and ZDI (Zeidman Development's Importacular) for different clients that I work with. But I've had more experience with setting up templates/profiles with ZDI. IOM allows for Virtual Fields for data that is the same for all records in an import. ZDI allows you to select by field whether the data comes from the source file (what you're importing) or if it's a default setting from RE set in the template itself. I haven't done this, but I believe you can also do a little bit of an If...Then statement. Alternatively, you can populate your source file with the data required by RE. I think you can also wait to fill out some of that once in the Batch, using Batch Global Change, Defaults and the F2 key, or manual entry.

Shannon Stepanek · October 2018

Hi Neeta,

Yes we use ImportOmatic for the same scenario you describe. When you set up the Import Profile there is a check box within the Gifts set-up where you may choose to have gifts imported into a batch. See attached.

Importing into Batch

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