Start an Import Process

Once you add an import process to the database, you can run the process to import data and add the batch to the database. You can run an import process directly from the Import page. In the Import processes grid, select the import process to run and select Start import. The import process status page appears and displays the status of the process. When the import process finishes, the Status field on the Recent status tab displays “Completed”.

For more information about the items on the status page, see Tabs of a Process Status Page.

Note: You can also start an import process from its status page. On the import process status page, select Start process under Tasks.

When you run an import process, the program uses the selected batch template to import the information in the selected import file into a new batch. After you run the import process, the new batch appears on the Uncommitted Batches tab of the Batch Entry page.

Note: When you import constituent records that do not include lookup IDs or system IDs into a batch, the program automatically uses the name and address entered to verify the constituent does not already exist in the database. If the program finds another constituent with the same information, it links the constituent in the import file to the existing constituent record. If the program finds multiple constituents with similar information, it flags the constituent in the batch as a possible duplicate.

In Batch Entry, you can add or edit data entry in the batch, submit the batch for approval, and commit the batch to the database. When a batch is committed to the database, the program uses its information to add or update records in the database. To access the Batch Entry page, from Data, select Batch entry. Batches created by an import process have a description of “Batch created by the... import process”. For more information about the batch entry page, see Batch Entry Page.

Note: Depending on your security rights and system role, you can also edit the data entry of a batch created by an import process from the import process status record. On the import process status record, select Go to batch entry under Tasks. The data entry screen of the batch appears. For more information about the batch data entry screen, see Batch Data Entry Screen.