[Vtigercrm-developers] How to import and overwrite data without changing record IDs

nilay khatri nilay.spartan at gmail.com
Thu Sep 17 12:46:51 GMT 2020


Okay, so if that is the case I would ask my team to stop the work on this
and would wait to hear further from the Vtiger team.

On Thu, Sep 17, 2020 at 5:04 PM Uma S <uma.s at vtiger.com> wrote:

> Hi Alan,
>
> Yes! We took an approach to review our cloud version and see if we can
> port the import functionality, which resolves most of the issues we
> discussed over here.
>
> Right now, cloud supports 4 different options in Duplicate Handling as
> noted below.
>
>    - Merge & Overwrite, skip blank values from CSV - If a mapped field
>    has blank value in the imported file, then existing value in CRM is retained
>    - Merge & Overwrite, apply any blank values from CSV - If a mapped
>    field has blank value in the imported file, then existing value in CRM will
>    be removed.
>    - Skip Duplicates - Duplicates entries in the file will not be
>    imported if a matching record is already in the CRM.
>    - Don't check Duplicates - All record from import file are imported
>
> In addition to this unique field is supported during the field mapping
> step. So that import is carried out successfully.
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 5:32 PM Alan Lord <alanslists at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> FWIW, I think it would be helpful if vtiger discussed how this currently
>> works in vtiger Cloud. In my experience it seems to work  quite well
>> there.
>>
>> Al
>>
>>
>> On 16/09/2020 12:34, nilay khatri wrote:
>> > This is what I think would be ideal:
>> >
>> > 1. In any case the duplicate records in the CRM should not be merged
>> > 2. If the operation is merge then *update* all the matching records
>> > fields, with the field values in the CSV file if the values in the CRM
>> > record is empty or not equal to default value for that field
>> > 3. If the operation is overwrite then *update* all the matching records
>> > fields with the field values in CSV blindly
>> >
>> > Since we are not merging duplicate records in CRM into one single
>> record
>> > anymore it would also be possible to Map the auto-generated fields.
>> >
>> > Our team has started work on this and will share the progress soon.
>> > Please feel free to share your thoughts.
>> >
>> > On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 2:57 PM Uma S <uma.s at vtiger.com
>> > <mailto:uma.s at vtiger.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> >     Hi Martin,
>> >
>> >     That's a better idea, We need to improvise on the existing
>> >     options(Merge & overwrite) to import field values in the field
>> >     mapping phase for blank field values and add support to introduce
>> >     unique field in field mapping to resolve this issue.
>> >
>> >     Thanks! for the insight Martin :) Updated your observation on the
>> >     issue <https://code.vtiger.com/vtiger/vtigercrm/issues/1483>.
>> >
>> >
>> >     On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 12:54 PM Martin Allen
>> >     <martin.allen at clystnet.com <mailto:martin.allen at clystnet.com>>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >         I don't think you need to make the User choose between 'new' or
>> >         'update' as then they'd potentially have to do two imports
>> >         instead of being able to do both in 1 step - just need to ensure
>> >         that the 'update' or 'merge' method is very explicit in how it
>> >         works (and does work correctly).
>> >         Adding the ability to select autoincrement fields as the
>> >         duplicate check (being the only true Unique ID field) is key to
>> >         making this work properly though. Being the only non-editable
>> >         field, it means you can then update ANY existing field even if
>> >         it's a field you would previously have used as a duplicate check
>> >         field! (Which you can currently do!)
>> >
>> >         When the record already exists maybe, allowing the User to
>> >         specify per field (in the Field Mapping section) whether to
>> >         always use the supplied value (overwrite), or whichever one is
>> >         not blank (merge), and if both not blank then whether to use the
>> >         supplied value or the existing value?
>> >
>> >         Martin Allen
>> >
>> >         *01392 248692 - Main Office
>> >         01392 690659 - Direct Line*
>> >
>> >         *signature2*
>> >
>> >         Have you visited our website recently? http://www.clystnet.com
>> >         <http://www.clystnet.com/>
>> >
>> >
>> >         The information in this email is confidential If you are not the
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>> >         Clystnet Ltd (company reg number 7164503) is based at Silverdown
>> >         Park, Fair Oak Close, Clyst Honiton, EX5 2UX
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >         On Tue, 15 Sep 2020 at 07:37, Uma S <uma.s at vtiger.com
>> >         <mailto:uma.s at vtiger.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> >             Thanks! for the Idea Ruben. Updated the details on the issue
>> >             <https://code.vtiger.com/vtiger/vtigercrm/issues/1483>.
>> >
>> >             On Mon, Sep 14, 2020 at 9:38 PM Rubén A. Estrada Orozco
>> >             <rulotec1 at gmail.com <mailto:rulotec1 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> >                 I agree, there should be an "update" option which only
>> >                 updates fields in existing records but that doesn't
>> >                 create new records. And the merge option that currently
>> >                 exists should create records if they do not exist and
>> >                 update them if they do (here we would just need to fix
>> >                 the existing bugs).
>> >                 Saludos
>> >
>> >                 Rubén
>> >
>> >
>> >                 On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 12:12 PM Uma S <
>> uma.s at vtiger.com
>> >                 <mailto:uma.s at vtiger.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> >                     Hi Team,
>> >
>> >                     I think we should enhance the import functionality,
>> >                     So that systems should first analyze the user's need
>> >                     for import on either to update the existing records
>> >                     or to replace the record (i.e., delete existing and
>> >                     creating new one). Based on selected choice
>> >                     consequent steps should be taken on records.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >                     On Fri, Sep 11, 2020 at 10:42 AM nilay khatri
>> >                     <nilay.spartan at gmail.com
>> >                     <mailto:nilay.spartan at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> >                         And thanks for the input everyone.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >                         On Fri, Sep 11, 2020 at 12:59 AM Rubén A.
>> >                         Estrada Orozco <rulotec1 at gmail.com
>> >                         <mailto:rulotec1 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> >                             Naily, I've seen similar issues. When using
>> >                             the merge feature for example, we noticed
>> >                             that if you have a phone column in your csv
>> >                             and its empty and if the record in
>> >                             vtgier has already a phone, it gets deleted.
>> >                             What you would expect from a merge is that
>> >                             it would keep the non-empty field.
>> >
>> >                             I've opened these issues:
>> >                             * merge function deletes fields:
>> >
>> https://code.vtiger.com/vtiger/vtigercrm/issues/1483
>> >                             * add record number field for updating
>> >                             purposes:
>> >
>> https://code.vtiger.com/vtiger/vtigercrm/issues/1484
>> >
>> >                             Saludos
>> >
>> >                             Rubén
>> >
>> >
>> >                             On Thu, Sep 10, 2020 at 9:36 AM Martin Allen
>> >                             <martin.allen at clystnet.com
>> >                             <mailto:martin.allen at clystnet.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> >                                 We've actually written our own import
>> >                                 scripts that will read a CSV file and
>> >                                 will update / create records via
>> >                                 Webservice, allowing you to do a check
>> >                                 for an existing record using whatever
>> >                                 fields you want first (and can identify
>> >                                 and handle if it returns multiple
>> >                                 records) and then update only the fields
>> >                                 you want to.
>> >
>> >                                 Martin Allen
>> >
>> >                                 *01392 248692 - Main Office
>> >                                 01392 690659 - Direct Line*
>> >
>> >                                 *signature2*
>> >
>> >                                 Have you visited our website recently?
>> >                                 http://www.clystnet.com
>> >                                 <http://www.clystnet.com/>
>> >
>> >
>> >                                 The information in this email is
>> >                                 confidential If you are not the intended
>> >                                 recipient, you must not read or use that
>> >                                 information. This email and any
>> >                                 attachments are believed to be virus
>> >                                 free however no responsibility is
>> >                                 accepted by Clystnet for any loss or
>> >                                 damage arising in any way from receipt
>> >                                 or use thereof. Clystnet Ltd (company
>> >                                 reg number 7164503) is based at
>> >                                 Silverdown Park, Fair Oak Close, Clyst
>> >                                 Honiton, EX5 2UX
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >                                 On Thu, 10 Sep 2020 at 15:28, Martin
>> >                                 Allen <martin.allen at clystnet.com
>> >                                 <mailto:martin.allen at clystnet.com>>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >                                     I believe that in vTiger hosted
>> >                                     version it is possible to have the
>> >                                     Lead Number (or any Auto Increment
>> >                                     field in any other module - UI Type
>> >                                     4) field included in an Import which
>> >                                     can then be used for checking for
>> >                                     duplicates (obviously this field
>> >                                     value is not imported, only used for
>> >                                     duplicate checking).
>> >
>> >                                     Would be good if this was available
>> >                                     in the open source version, as it
>> >                                     would make importing data (to update
>> >                                     records rather than creating new
>> >                                     ones) much simpler and safer, as any
>> >                                     other field cannot be guaranteed to
>> >                                     be unique, and sometimes the field
>> >                                     you want to update are the fields
>> >                                     that you would typically use to
>> >                                     identify duplicates (i.e. First
>> >                                     Name, Last Name, Email Address for
>> >                                     Contacts)
>> >
>> >                                     Martin Allen
>> >
>> >                                     *01392 248692 - Main Office
>> >                                     01392 690659 - Direct Line*
>> >
>> >                                     *signature2*
>> >
>> >                                     Have you visited our website
>> >                                     recently? http://www.clystnet.com
>> >                                     <http://www.clystnet.com/>
>> >
>> >
>> >                                     The information in this email is
>> >                                     confidential If you are not the
>> >                                     intended recipient, you must not
>> >                                     read or use that information. This
>> >                                     email and any attachments are
>> >                                     believed to be virus free however no
>> >                                     responsibility is accepted by
>> >                                     Clystnet for any loss or damage
>> >                                     arising in any way from receipt or
>> >                                     use thereof. Clystnet Ltd (company
>> >                                     reg number 7164503) is based at
>> >                                     Silverdown Park, Fair Oak Close,
>> >                                     Clyst Honiton, EX5 2UX
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >                                     On Thu, 10 Sep 2020 at 13:22, nilay
>> >                                     khatri <nilay.spartan at gmail.com
>> >                                     <mailto:nilay.spartan at gmail.com>>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >                                         This is a very common challenge,
>> >                                         users want to update certain
>> >                                         data of records in CRM by
>> >                                         importing a CSV.
>> >
>> >                                         Let us say Leads, we want to
>> >                                         update Lead Status, so the CSV
>> >                                         sheet contains 2 columns Primary
>> >                                         Email and Status.
>> >
>> >                                         If we import the CSV and set the
>> >                                         duplicate check criteria in step
>> >                                         2 on Primary Email and import
>> >                                         following things would happen:
>> >
>> >                                         - quite possible all the other
>> >                                         data in fields will be wiped out
>> >                                         - if the system contains more
>> >                                         than 1 Lead with same email id,
>> >                                         it would delete them, keeping
>> >                                         only 1
>> >                                         - the record IDs will change
>> >
>> >                                         If I talk about contact module
>> >                                         that is full of surprises,
>> >                                         contact Id is available to
>> >                                         select in the duplicate
>> >                                         selection criteria, but not
>> >                                         available in the field mapping!
>> >
>> >
>>  --------------------------------------
>> >
>> >
>> >                                         In the end we want to achieve a
>> >                                         very simple thing, import a List
>> >                                         of Leads and update respective
>> >                                         status without changing record
>> >                                         Ids or deleting any other
>> >                                         matching record in system.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>  _______________________________________________
>> >                                         http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >
>>  _______________________________________________
>> >                                 http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >
>>  _______________________________________________
>> >                             http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >                         _______________________________________________
>> >                         http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >                     --
>> >                     With
>> >                     Best Regards
>> >                     Uma.S
>> >                     Vtiger Team
>> >                     _______________________________________________
>> >                     http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >                 _______________________________________________
>> >                 http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >             --
>> >             With
>> >             Best Regards
>> >             Uma.S
>> >             Vtiger Team
>> >             _______________________________________________
>> >             http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >         _______________________________________________
>> >         http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >     --
>> >     With
>> >     Best Regards
>> >     Uma.S
>> >     Vtiger Team
>> >     _______________________________________________
>> >     http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > http://www.vtiger.com/
>> >
>> _______________________________________________
>> http://www.vtiger.com/
>
>
>
> --
> With
> Best Regards
> Uma.S
> Vtiger Team
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.vtiger.com/
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