Import and Match Data > Import all data > Import type

Import type

You can specify the type of import to perform in the user interface or in the CSV file.

In the CSV file, you can specify the following operation types:

Operation Type	Description
Upsert	Adds new records or overwrites all the field values of existing records.
Patch	Updates field values in record sections. For example, you can update the date of birth and mailing address of an existing record.
Delete	Performs the following operations: - Deletes source records. - Deletes relationships and hierarchies. - Deletes the field group entries in record sections. For example, you can delete the billing address in a record. You can delete the field group entries but not the root field values by using the delete operation type. To delete a specific root field value, specify all the root field values except the field value that you want to delete in the CSV file. Note: You can't use the delete operation type to delete any root field values of a record. For more information about deleting field group entries, see Delete field group entries.

In the user interface, you can select one of the following import types:

•Create or overwrite records. Adds new records and overwrites all the field values of existing records through the upsert operation. Also, you can create new relationships and hierarchies.
•Update record sections. Updates field values in record sections through the patch operation. A record section include all the root fields, fields in field groups, or fields in a nested field group.

The import type specified in the CSV file takes precedence over the import type that you specify in the user interface.

For example, specify the operation type as patch for the root field of a record in the CSV file and select the import type create or overwrite records. The import process considers patch as the operation and updates the values in the root fields and field groups of the record.

Note: If you don't specify the operation type in the CSV file, the import process uses the import type that you set in the user interface.

Create or overwrite records

When you choose to create or overwrite records, the import process adds new records and overwrites all the field values of existing records.

Ensure that your CSV file contains values for all the fields for the existing records. If you specify only the field values that you want to update in the CSV file, the import process updates the specified field values and sets the other field values to null.

For example, consider the following existing records:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_123	Mary	T	02/19/1990	3788	Home	2nd Street, Fairlands, North Block	Mumbai
SFDC_536	Andrew	Chris	09/10/1983	5672	Billing	4th Avenue, 8th Street, ECR	Chennai

Import the following records by using the create or overwrite records option:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_345	Charles	Richard	03/20/1988	6785	Office	14 Washington Square N, Block 10011	New York
SFDC_536	Andrew	Chris	09/10/1980	5672	Billing	10, Broadway, MH Street, ADH Colony	Bangalore

When the import is complete, you can view the following records:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_123	Mary	T	02/19/1990	3788	Home	2nd Street, Fairlands, North Block	Mumbai
SFDC_345	Charles	Richard	03/20/1988	6785	Office	14 Washington Square N, Block 10011	New York
SFDC_536	Andrew	Chris	09/10/1980	5672	Billing	10, Broadway, MH Street, ADH Colony	Bangalore

In the preceding example, you can see that the Charles record is added, and the Andrew record is updated.

Create related records

You can import a CSV file by using the create or overwrite records option to create relationships between source records. Ensure that the CSV file contains the source primary keys of the records you want to relate and these records belong to the same source system.

After you upload the CSV file, select the target relationship for which you want to import data.

For example, if you specify Organization as Entity 1 and Person as Entity 2 in a relationship, enter the source primary keys of the Organization records in the From column and the source primary keys of the Person records in the To column. Also, specify the source primary key for each relationship.

The following table lists sample relationship data that you can import by using create or overwrite records option:

Source Primary Key	From_sourcePKey	To_sourcePKey
101	67985f037ecc1d791818613d	6798679e7ecc1d79181861e6
102	67985f3f7ecc1d7918186154	67985f3f7ecc1d7918186154
103	67985f5d7ecc1d791818616b	6798679e7ecc1d79181861e6

After the import is complete, you can view the relationships between records.

Create hierarchies

You can import a CSV file by using the create or overwrite records option, to create hierarchy relationships between source records. The CSV file must contain the source primary keys of root, parent, and child records. Ensure that the source records that you want to relate belong to the same source system.

After you upload the CSV file, select the target hierarchy for which you want to import data.

For example, consider a hierarchy having Insurance to Hospital relationship.

The following table lists sample hierarchy data that you can import by using create or overwrite records option:

Hierarchy Instance_SPkey	Instance_Name	InsToHos.SPkey	Root SPKey	Parent_SPkey	Child_SPkey
hierarchy_create_Pkey	HierarchyCreate	Hos_100	6798dc871640a65a216aa1cd	6798dc871640a65a216aa1cd	67985f857ecc1d7918186182
hierarchy_create_Pkey	HierarchyCreate	Hos_101	6798dc871640a65a216aa1cd	6798dc871640a65a216aa1cd	67985fa87ecc1d7918186199

The following table describes the column names in the CSV file:

Column Name	Description
Hierarchy Instance_SPkey	Unique source primary key that identifies the hierarchy.
Instance_Name	Name of the hierarchy.
InsToHos.SPkey	Unique source primary key of the hierarchical relationship to create between the records.
Instance_Root SPKey	Source primary key of the top-level parent record.
Parent_SPkey	Source primary key of the parent record.
Child_SPkey	Source primary key of the child record.

After the import is complete, you can view the hierarchy created between the records.

Import data with business ID

You can import source records with their business IDs.

If a business ID in the input file matches an existing source record, the import process merges the input record with the existing source record and contributes to the corresponding master record. If the business ID doesn't match any existing source records, the import process creates a new record.

For example, consider that business ID 121000000000002 exists in Customer 360 SaaS, and business ID 121000000000004 doesn't exist in Customer 360 SaaS.

The following table lists the source records that you plan to import:

Business ID	SourcePkey	First Name	Last Name	Address Line1	Address Line2	City
121000000000002	bigAIData_893964_22	Dilyar	Shanbhag	0193 Rojas Underpass Suite 256	Suite 795	North Andrewtown
121000000000002	bigAIData_893964_23	Ambika	Shanbhag	1154 Hickman Walk Apt. 884	Suite 361	Cindyland
121000000000004	bigAIData_893964_1	Barbara	Kamath	631 Wolf Roads	Suite 128	Rileystad
121000000000004	bigAIData_893964_2	Tony	Kamath	9142 Campbell Pike Suite	Suite 510	Nataliehaven
121000000000004	bigAIData_893964_3	Alex	Kamath	410 Williams Run	Suite 764	Haynesburgh

The records with the business ID 121000000000002 merge with the existing source records, and they contribute to the corresponding master record. Additionally, all input records with the business ID 121000000000004 are merged to create a master record.

For more information about importing data with business IDs, see Ingress data with business ID.

Update root fields and field group entries

You can update the values of root fields, field groups, and nested field groups. To update field values in a section, you must include all the field values of that section. If you include only few fields in a section, the import process removes values from other fields.

For example, consider that the Charles record has root fields, such as First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, and Gender, and then an address field group with fields, such as Address Line 1, City, and Country.

To update values of the First Name and Address Line 1 fields, you must also include values for the Last Name, Date of Birth, and Gender fields of the root section and values for the City and Country fields of the address field group section. If you exclude them, the import process removes values from these fields and updates the values of the First Name and Address Line 1 fields.

Ensure that you specify the source primary key of the record and the specific field group ID of existing records that you want to update.

Consider the following example for updating field values in root section and the field group entry:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_345	Charles	Richard	03/20/1988	6785	Office	14 Washington Square N, Block 10011	New York
SFDC_536	Andrew	Chris	09/10/1980	5672	Billing	10 Broadway, MH Street, ADH Colony	Bangalore

To update the date of birth of the Charles record and the address line 1 of the Andrew record, import the following records by using the update record sections option:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_345	Charles	Richard	03/20/1987
SFDC_536				5672	Billing	5th Avenue, Fairlands, ABC Layout	Bangalore

When the import is complete, you can view the following records:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_345	Charles	Richard	03/20/1987	6785	Office	14 Washington Square N, Block 10011	New York
SFDC_536	Andrew	Chris	09/10/1980	5672	Billing	5th Avenue, Fairlands, ABC Layout	Bangalore

In the preceding sample, you can see that the date of birth value is updated for the Charles record, and the billing address is updated for the Andrew record.

Delete field group entries

To delete field group entries, set the operation type column to delete in the CSV file. When you want to delete a specific root field value, specify all the root field values except the field value that you want to delete in the CSV file. You can't use the delete operation type to delete the root field values, hierarchy and relationship records.

Note: You can't use the delete operation type to delete all the root field values of a record.

For example, consider the following existing records:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_123	Mary	T	02/19/1990	3788	Home	2nd Street, Fairlands, North Block	Mumbai
SFDC_345	Charles	Richard	03/20/1988	6785	Office	14 Washington Square N, Block 10011	New York

Import the following records by specifying the delete operation type:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Operation Type
SFDC_123				3788	Delete
SFDC_345	Charles	Richard

When the import is complete, you can view the following records:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Field Group ID	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_123	Mary	T	02/19/1990
SFDC_345	Charles	Richard		6785	Office	14 Washington Square N, Block 10011	New York

In the preceding example, you can see that the date of birth is deleted from the Charles record, and the office address is deleted from the Mary record.

Delete source records

To delete source records that you don't need, specify delete in the operation type column in the CSV file. When you want to delete a source record, specify the values for the required root fields and the source primary key of the source record.

For example, consider the following records:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_148	Tom	T	02/19/1992	Home	2nd Street, Fairlands, North Block	Mumbai
SFDC_560	Hary	Richard	03/20/1983	Office	14 Washington Square N, Block 10011	New York

Import the following records by specifying the delete operation type and values for the mandatory fields:

Source Primary Key	Operation Type	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Type	Address Line 1
SFDC_148	Delete	Tom		02/19/1992
SFDC_560	Delete	Hary		03/20/1983

After the import is complete, the specified source records are deleted.

Delete relationships

To delete relationships that you don't need, specify delete in the operation type column in the CSV file. When you delete relationships, specify the source primary keys of the records that are related. Also, specify the unique source primary keys of the relationship.

After you upload the CSV file, select the target relationship to delete between the records.

The following table lists sample relationship data that you can import by specifying the operation type as delete:

Source Primary Key	_from_id_sourcePKey	_to_id_sourcePKey	Operation Type
101	67985f037ecc1d791818613d	6798679e7ecc1d79181861e6	Delete
102	67985f3f7ecc1d7918186154	67985f3f7ecc1d7918186154	Delete
103	67985f5d7ecc1d791818616b	6798679e7ecc1d79181861e6	Delete

After the import is complete, the specified relationships are deleted.

Delete hierarchies

To delete hierarchies that you don't need, specify delete in the operation type column in the CSV file. When you delete hierarchies, specify the source primary keys of root, parent, and child records.

After you upload the CSV file, select the target hierarchy to perform the delete operation.

For example, consider a hierarchy having Insurance to Hospital relationship.

The following table lists sample hierarchy data that you can import by specifying the operation type as delete:

Hierarchy Instance_SPkey	Instance_Name	InsToHos.SPkey	Root SPKey	Parent_SPkey	Child_SPkey	Operation Type
hierarchy_create_Pkey	HierarchyCreate	Hos_100	6798dc871640a65a216aa1cd	6798dc871640a65a216aa1cd	67985f857ecc1d7918186182	Delete
hierarchy_create_Pkey	HierarchyCreate	Hos_101	6798dc871640a65a216aa1cd	6798dc871640a65a216aa1cd	67985fa87ecc1d7918186199	Delete

The following table describes the column names present in the CSV file:

Column Name	Description
Hierarchy Instance_SPkey	Unique source primary key that identifies the hierarchy.
Instance_Name	Name of the hierarchy.
InsToHos.SPkey	Unique source primary key of the hierarchical relationship to create between the records.
Instance_Root SPKey	Source primary key of the top-level parent record.
Parent_SPkey	Source primary key of the parent record.
Child_SPkey	Source primary key of the child record.
Operation Type	Type of operation to perform, such as delete.

After the import is complete, the specified hierarchy data is deleted.

Restore source records

To restore the deleted source records, specify restore in the operation type column in the CSV file. When you want to restore a deleted source record, specify the values for required root fields and the source primary key of the record.

For example, consider the following deleted records:

Source Primary Key	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Type	Address Line 1	City
SFDC_148	Tom	T	02/19/1992	Home	2nd Street, Fairlands, North Block	Mumbai
SFDC_560	Hary	Richard	03/20/1983	Office	14 Washington Square N, Block 10011	New York

Import the following records by specifying the restore operation type and field values for the mandatory fields:

Source Primary Key	Operation Type	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Address Type	Address Line 1
SFDC_148	Restore	Tom		02/19/1992
SFDC_560	Restore	Hary		03/20/1983

After the import is complete, the specified records are restored.