Updating contacts on import

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After using an advanced find I exported a large (30,000) contact list and performed some operations in excel to get it down to the desired size (5,000).

The goal is to import the 5,000 of 30,000 in to a CRM Marketing List. However, when I import the contacts to CRM using the import tool it creates duplicates instead of just matching and updating the existing contacts.

Each contact has a unique ID and all of the other fields are matched with existing records. Duplicate detection is on, there is no change in information with the contacts I am importing to CRM, they're the same as when I pulled them out.

How do I make this work

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TheMarkChristie 10,328 Moderator on at

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Hi

Are you trying to do 2 things here? Are you trying to update the contact and then add them to a marketing list?

If this is the case I would

1) export the 30,000 then get your 5,000 form that,

2) Re-Import the contacts (make sure that your export had reimport enabled)

3) Create an advanced find for all contacts that had been modified by that user at that time

4) Once you have your results then send them to the marketing list

Using scribe this could have been done directly but for a one off this would be your quickest way

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ScottDurow 21 on at

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When you export the contacts you will need check the checkbox that says enable for re-import - this adds additional unique id columns so that the records are updated rather than created when you re-import. See crmbook.powerobjects.com/.../using-excel-reimport-in-dynamics-crm

Hope this helps?

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Community Member on at

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Both those answers helped. I did the steps you both suggested. I realize now in the process of extracting my 5,000 names I created a new excel workbook. I think that is why CRM saw it as a create on import and not an update. Will get back to you when I give it another try.

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TheMarkChristie 10,328 Moderator on at

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No Problem

As I say - the easy way to add them to the marketing list is to use the modified on and by fields

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Community Member on at

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I got the upload to work, thanks for the assist gentlemen.

P.S. The CRM Book site is a pro-tip. Thanks Scott.

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