Sometimes, you need to add a group of records into your CRM database.
SugarCRM includes an Import Wizard to help you correctly and easily
import a list of records. This post shows how to import data using the
sugar import wizard.
Users can access the Import Wizard from the dropdown action menus for modules via the navigation bar. SugarCRM allows importing of Accounts, Contacts, Leads, Opportunities, Targets, Cases, Calls, Meetings, Tasks, and Notes. Versions 6.5.10 and higher also allow importing Contracts.
First, you will have to prepare the data that you want to import into
SugarCRM. You should export the data to a .csv file, either comma- or
tab-delimited. You should have a separate file for each type of record
that will be imported, such as Accounts or Contacts, because importing
data must be done one module at a time. The first row of each file
should contain the header row which includes the field labels as they
appear in the software. Database names can also be used in the header
row. The labels in the header row will be used to map the data to the
correct fields in SugarCRM, so the order of the columns is not
important.
Sugar Import Wizard
SugarCRM offers example import files for each type of record,
accessible through that module’s Import Wizard. These can be useful if
you are uncertain about how to set up your data.
The Import Wizard will guide you through the process of uploading and processing your data. The most important step is labeled “Confirm Field Mappings.” In this step, you must make sure that the headers from your data are correctly mapped to the fields in SugarCRM. The headers from your data file are shown in the left column. In the middle column, choose the correct SugarCRM field from the drop-down list for the data in that header. SugarCRM will automatically map any headers to fields with identical names. You can also choose not to map a field, if desired, by selecting “Do not map this field” in the middle column. The right column offers you a preview of the data stored in that column by showing the data in the first non-header row.
If the headers from your report do not exactly match the field labels
in SugarCRM, you will have to manually match which field to use for the
data in that column, as is shown with the Phone example above.
You can also manually add a field to your data on this step. This can be a convenient way to set the same value for a specific field for every record you are importing, such as a lead source or assigned user. To use this feature, click the Add Field button near the bottom of the page. Select the field that you would like to use, and then specify a default value for the field.
More information about the Sugar Import Wizard is included in our comprehensive eBook for SugarCRM users, Getting Started with SugarCRM Version 6.x.