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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Archived) / What unique identifier...
Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Archived)

What unique identifiers does the CRM need to perform an import update of records?

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Posted on by MikeC282 2,095

Hi All

I've noticed that when I export a static spreadsheet of my Organisations, there are 3 hidden columns in A, B and C:

  • (Do Not Modify) Organisation

  • (Do Not Modify) Row Checksum

  • (Do Not Modify) Modified On

Could I check with of the three unique identifiers, the CRM uses to make updates to records? The reason is that I've imported some update data previously, which changed some record field it shouldn't have so I'm looking to revert all the organisation records back to an older export spreadsheet I've made previously before the error. I've noticed that the (Do Not Modify) Organisation column is the same for the organisations but the (Do Not Modify) Row Checksum is different. My question is whether I would only need the organisation unique identifier to update and revert the data back to an older reiteration or does it need the Row Checksum as well and what's the difference between the 3 hidden columns and their roles?

*This post is locked for comments

  • Suggested answer
    Kokulan Profile Picture
    Kokulan 18,048 on at
    RE: What unique identifiers does the CRM need to perform an import update of records?

    Hi

    I think instead of spending a lot of time in geting the Row Checksum value from Version number field from CRM DB, you could consider following options

    01. Write a Console App / Linqpad script that parses your excel file, loops through each record and updates the record, something like the the following

    Have a look at the link below

    community.dynamics.com/.../287384

    02. You could use SSIS  - www.kingswaysoft.com/.../ssis-integration-toolkit-for-microsoft-dynamics-crm

  • Daryl LaBar Profile Picture
    Daryl LaBar 500 Most Valuable Professional on at
    RE: What unique identifiers does the CRM need to perform an import update of records?

    I can verify that replacing the checksum/Modified on  values does indeed work.  The CheckSum is a database value that gets generated whenever a row is modified, so unfortunetly, you'd have to update it for each environment you are working in.

  • andrewj Profile Picture
    andrewj on at
    RE: What unique identifiers does the CRM need to perform an import update of records?

    Wouldn't it be hypothetically possible to export the current records and obtain the latest checksum. Then matching the old records with the new checksum in excel, try and import using the older sheet?

  • Suggested answer
    PS Profile Picture
    PS 23,577 on at
    RE: What unique identifiers does the CRM need to perform an import update of records?

    Yes

  • MikeC282 Profile Picture
    MikeC282 2,095 on at
    RE: What unique identifiers does the CRM need to perform an import update of records?

    Thanks Srikanth

    Does that mean that if I try to use an older data spreadsheet to try to revert back some of the changes made during a future import, it won't work because the row checksum is different?

  • Suggested answer
    ansrikanth Profile Picture
    ansrikanth 3,115 on at
    RE: What unique identifiers does the CRM need to perform an import update of records?

    Hi

    AFAIK, The row checksum is the field which MS uses to identify changes in data. If you observe, when we re-import data, CRM will only update those records which are actually modified and it ignores all other rows. This happens based on Row check sum value.

    Thank you

    Srikanth

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