Re-import updated data

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Posted on by Community Member Microsoft Employee

I imported 900+ Accounts, but need to change the owner to an 'admin' account. Down the road, I will receive updated account info in a spreadsheet and will have to bulk update.

I tried creating a workflow to change the owner, but the 'owner' field was locked. I tried changing the restriction but it's still locked/uneditable. I was able to edit the owner using advanced find, but this was limited to 50 at a time b/c of the page display limit.

So I wanted to:

1. export to excel

2. update the owner/other account info

3. re-import to CRM, updating existing accounts

I exported to excel and I have 3 columns with these headings, and CRM generated unique ID numbers.

(Do Not Modify) Account
(Do Not Modify) Modified On
(Do Not Modify) Row Checksum

When I go to re-import the updated data, it doesn't map those 3 fields and doesn't recognize that the accounts already exist and I want to update them.

Does anyone know how to re-import these correctly? I'm using CRM 2016 online

Thanks

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BenB 40 on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

One of my users has been having this trouble since lock down started. The funny thing was it worked on the laptop the office had provided, but not the home PC of the user. Turns out an excel add in is required to use the simple in built export, update, then re-import to update feature. With out the add in i got the errors you were describing. Once they get the add in, they are prompted to log in with their normal user/pass, they need to do so. They are then asked to do further configuration, but there is no need to do that unless desired (i didn't even look into what it does yet). Once logged in, the export, update, and re-import function should be working. For the add in just search 'PowerApps' in the Get Add in section of Excel.
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BenB 40 on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

Hi All,

Using Online:

One of my users has been having this trouble since lock down started. The funny thing was it worked on the laptop the office had provided, but not the home PC of the user. Turns out an excel add in is required to use the simple in built export, update, then re-import to update. Once they get the add in, they are prompted to log in with their normal user/pass, they need to do so. They are then asked to do further configuration, but there is no need to do that unless desired. Once logged in, the export, update, and re-import function should be working. For the add in just search 'PowerApps' in the Get Add in section of Excel.
Torben B. Jensen 5 on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

It appears that it is only possible to do re-import using the xlsx file format (or maybe also xml), however CSV doesn't seem to be able to do this, since it doesn't map the 'do not modify' fields.

You can risk getting a non specified error message when trying to import the excel file; this can be due to some excel file formatting it doesn't like, og possibly some data that doesn't comply to data types etc. for the respective fields set in CRM. I never found out exactly why it did that, but by experimenting back and forth I managed to get rid of that error message. After that, it re-imported my data without making duplicates. Note that the '(Do Not Modify) Modified On' field must be filled in for all records - otherwise it claims that the record was altered after the export was done, and it will not do the import any such records.
Jason Fleming 282 on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

Hi guys,

I am encountering this error still by where i download a static view, make my changes and when i load the report back into the system it keeps creating duplicates.

I go and turn on the duplicate rules i have in place and the upload fails due to the record already being there.

Any suggestion how to get around this?
Community Member Microsoft Employee on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

I am using 2016 on-prem and am having the same issue (with contacts). I've done the export, updated the data in the one field i need to change, and saved as a csv. file. When i get to the import mapping tool, there is no option to map those fields, and it creates duplicates each time.
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Community Member Microsoft Employee on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

Don't know how many people are still reading this old thread. I found that the Active Contacts View it pulls from both Contacts and Company entities and therein lies the problem. Apparently CRM Online does not like imports across multiple Entities. I created a new View pulling only from the Contacts entity, exported, made changes, then uploaded.
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Ryan Maclean 3,070 on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

Hi Cynthia,

You could use the Bulk Workflow Execution plugin in the XRM Toolbox to apply the workflow to as many records as you like

http://www.xrmtoolbox.com/
Community Member Microsoft Employee on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

Hii,

Try this :

1. Export the data that you want to update (you must include the columns that you want to be updated)

2. You must export with Dynamic Worksheet option

3. When you open the excel file, you will notice there is a hidden cloumn at the end of columns, make sure unhide it

4. Save the Excel file as CSV (comma delimited) file

5. Now you can edit the data (Don't edit the Header)

Also take a look at this link:

Take a look at his tutorial, hope this link can help you

www.powerobjects.com/.../mass-editing-dynamics-crm-2011-records-using-microsoft-excel
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PS 23,577 on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

When you advanced find

1. Add just two columns, Account Name & Owner

2. Export excel>>Static Worksheet (Page only)

3. open the excel and change the owner column

4. Save the sheet (Ctrl+s)

5. Import

6. Pop up must say on the top (an alert) "This will update existing records"

7. Do not unhide or change column A,B,C in the excel
Community Member Microsoft Employee on at

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RE: Re-import updated data

Hi,

Thanks, I was able to change it to display 250. I'm still unable to export and re-import updates.

I tried the exporting a dynamic worksheet from advanced find results, but re-importing it with an updated field didn't work. When I'm in the import wizard I get here and the 3 "do not modify" ID's aren't mapped to anything and it doesn't recognize it as an existing account.

Since I had to change all the accounts I ended up going to

> view 'Active Accounts'

> 'Export to Excel' drop down

> 'open in excel online'

> save changes to CRM

I exported the advanced find results in static and dynamic, neither .csv or .xml. I'm looking at guides saying to check box to 're-import later', but it's not in CRM 2016 online. Anyone know what to do?

Thanks