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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Archived) / Export data from an en...
Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Archived)

Export data from an entity for reimport in another entity

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Posted on by Community Member Microsoft Employee

Hi all,

I need to use the content of an export of entity X, in order to update entity Y by reimport.

X and Y have a 1:N relationship.


This is what I am doing :

1) Export records from a view from entity X. This view displays a lot of fields from entity Y, including the GUID.

2) Replace primary keys (column A of the export) of entity X by the GUIDs of entity Y. The goal here is to modify the Excel export to make it look like it was initially exported from entity Y.

3) Submit file for reimport


What is wrong is that CRM still thinks the file contains records of entity X. The import wizard doesn't even ask me what entity I am trying to import and automatically assumes it is entity X. Of course all lines fail, because I tampered with the primary keys.

Do you know how I could make CRM forget that my reimport file originally came from entity X and make it accept my file as containing records from entity Y ?

Is there another way I could achieve this ?

Thanks

*This post is locked for comments

  • Yadnyesh Kuvalekar Profile Picture
    Yadnyesh Kuvalekar 4,102 on at
    RE: Export data from an entity for reimport in another entity

    Feel free to mark applicable answers as verified.

  • Verified answer
    TheMarkChristie Profile Picture
    TheMarkChristie 10,328 on at
    RE: Export data from an entity for reimport in another entity

    Hi Edouard

    If you use the Export for Reimport this will never work as the XML has a reference to the main entity, You can Export the data to CSV, Manipulate it as needed and then import it as fresh data to the new entity

    The other option would be a quick copy workflow?

  • Verified answer
    Yadnyesh Kuvalekar Profile Picture
    Yadnyesh Kuvalekar 4,102 on at
    RE: Export data from an entity for reimport in another entity

    What version of CRM are you using? If it is above 2015 update 1, then you can achieve this using alternate key feature.

    Also, you cannot use same Excel file to import it back into CRM for another entity. CRM does not understand it and considers it to update same entity records.

    To achieve your requirement, you have to follow below steps:

    1. Create an alternate key field in entity Y. This field will have uniquly identified values.

    2. Add alternate key field in view of entity X and export data.

    3. Add alternate key field in view of entity Y with additional fields which needs to be updated. and export the data from entity Y.

    4. Perform manual V Lookup between 2 downloaded files and use alternate key field for matching records. Update records from entity Y Excel.

    5. Import the data back into CRM.

    This will solve your purpose.

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