On the Import page, you manage the import processes in your database. To access the Import page, from Administration, click Import. The Import page appears.
With Import, you can easily move data from one program to another. Import is particularly useful when your organization maintains multiple databases or when you frequently move information in and out of the database. In Import, you can create a batch to enter new records in the database or update existing records.
For example, using a spreadsheet from an outside application such as Microsoft Excel, you gather a large amount of information about potential donors including names, addresses, and other related data. It is logical to bring this data into your database, in bulk, using a batch. To do this, you add a import process, select a batch template, and specify and map fields from your import file to the fields that will ultimately display in the batch. The fields necessary to import or update information depend on the selected batch template.
Note: Before you can create import processes, the system administrator must first configure the import source file locations used for import processes. For information about how to configure the import sources, see Configure Import Sources.
The Import processes grid displays information about the import processes in the database and the import file used for each process. This information includes the name, associated batch template, and information about the last time the process ran. Depending on your security rights and system role, you can perform various tasks to manage the import processes in the database from the action bar.