Import Wizard

The Import Wizard allows for multiple prospects to be uploaded into NetForum by using an Excel spreadsheet.

Importing Prospects into netFORUM

To import a list of prospects into NetForum, you must complete the following steps:

  • Prepare the Excel spreadsheet
  • Upload the spreadsheet into NetForum
  • Map the desired spreadsheet columns to NetForum fields

Preparing the Excel Spreadsheet

You may prepare your Excel spreadsheet to meet your needs. There is no mandated way for a spreadsheet to be organized, nor is there a required number of columns or fields you must populate. However, being thorough in your spreadsheet design and including all of the fields you will need for each prospect will save you time in NetForum from having to go back and edit each record individually should you wish to add a field.

To create your spreadsheet, complete the following steps:

  1. Create your Excel spreadsheet with a column for each field you wish to populate in NetForum, such as Organization ID, First Name, Last Name, and so on. You only need to include those fields that you desire for your import, you are not required to include all of the NetForum fields available.
  2. Enter your prospect information to each of the appropriate columns, for each prospect.
  3. Save your spreadsheet in the xls format.

    Note: The Data Import Wizard will only import files with the xls file extension.

Upload the Spreadsheet

Once your spreadsheet is completed, you must upload it into NetForum using the Data Import Wizard.

To upload your spreadsheet into NetForum, complete the following steps:

  1. Expand the Module Menu and click on the Sales link. This will open the Sales module.
  2. Mouse over the Leads group item and click on the Import Wizard option.

    This will open the Import Wizard - Setup - Header Setup page.

  3. Enter a name for your prospect import job in the name field.
  4. Select a source code to be associated to this list of prospects from the source code drop-down menu.

    You may also add a new source code for this import job by clicking on the Add icon and completing the necessary fields.

  5. The import date field will default to today's date.
  6. If desired, you may enter the estimated row count and the actual row count for the prospect import you are completing. Both the expected count and actual count will show up on the Prospect List Profile. If you just enter the estimated count, the Prospect List Profile will display the actual count on its own.
  7. You may also enter a description for this job in the description field if desired.
  8. Click the Save & Continue button. This will open the Import Wizard - Select a file to import - File Selection page.
  9. Click the Browse button and locate the Excel spreadsheet you will be uploading during this process.
  10. Select the desired spreadsheet. The path name of that spreadsheet will now appear in the Browse field.
  11. Click the Save & Continue button. This will upload your file into NetForum and you will be taken to the field mapping stage.

Data Mapping

Once the spreadsheet has been uploaded into NetForum, you must tell NetForum which fields to populate with which column's data.

To map the NetForum fields to the columns in the Excel spreadsheet, complete the following steps:

After your spreadsheet finishes uploading, the Import Wizard - Choose a mapping for each column - Match Column form will open.

This form has two columns. The first column contains drop-down menus that list all of the NetForum fields that are available. The second column lists the first row from your spreadsheet (which is most likely your column headers.)

In the next few steps, you will map those column headers to the actual NetForum fields they correspond to. You are not required to map them all. If you just wish to map Customer ID, First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name (for example), that is perfectly fine. The choice is yours as to how detailed you wish to get.

  1. If the first row of your spreadsheet contains field names, click the First Row Contains Field Names checkbox.
  2. If you would like to save the mappings that you are about to do as a template for future data imports, enter a name in the Save Template as field.
  3. If you wish to use a pre-existing mapping template, select it from the Template drop-down menu. This will populate the first column with the NetForum fields that were assigned previously.
  4. The drop-down to the right of the Template drop-down menu lists the name of all the workbooks contained in the spreadsheet when it was uploaded.
  5. Regardless of whether you choose a template or not, you will want to either select or verify the NetForum fields in the left column to make sure they correspond accurately to the fields in the right column from the spreadsheet. You can add additional mappings, or delete mappings as needed.

    To add additional mappings, select the field from the right column you wish to match and expand its corresponding drop-down menu in the left column. Once that drop-down menu is expanded, choose the appropriate NetForum field to match the field in the right column.

    To remove a mapping, locate the field in the right column you wish to un-map and expand its corresponding drop-down menu in the left column. Scroll to the top of the list of NetForum fields and select the blank option (no text.) This will remove that mapping from this upload.

  6. Repeat the mapping process until all of the fields you desire to map from the imported spreadsheet are set.
  7. When completed, click the Finish button. This will complete your prospect upload and open the Prospect List Profile.

Prospect List Profile

The Prospect List Profile will display a list of those prospects that have just been imported.

From the Prospect List Profile you can click the Edit icon to make changes to a prospect's record.

You can also click the Delete icon to delete a prospect's record.

The attempted transfers - records duplicated child form displays a list of prospects who were not transferred in this upload due to the fact that a duplicate record exists for that individual.