Importing/Exporting Custom Fields

Formatting the Data

This import gives you the ability to do a mass import of Custom Fields. Make sure that if the Custom Fields use any Custom Lists that the Custom List import is done first. If the Custom Field already exists then it will be modified. This document also describes the format for how data is exported. You must create a CSV file formatted in a way that Fishbowl knows what to do with the data. This is easiest to do with a spreadsheet program.

All fields will be one of two types:

Text - A textual value. May contain any character, but if it contains a line break, comma or double quote, it must be wrapped with double quotes on both ends. If a field is wrapped, all text must be inside the double quotes. Double quotes in the text value must be doubled to import properly
Numeric - A decimal number greater than or equal to zero with up to four digits after the decimal point. The number must not have thousands' separators in it - 1234.56 is a valid number, while 1,234.56 is not.

CSV Fields Used to import Custom Fields

Column Name	Type	Description
FieldName	Text (41 chars)	The name of the Custom Field to be created or modified. *Required*
Description	Text (256 chars)	A description to be associated with the Custom Field. *Required*
Type	Text	The type of Custom Field to be created. It must be one of the following: Text Date Money Quantity Count Checkbox Drop-Down List *Required*
ModuleName	Text	The name of the Module that this Custom Field is associated with. *Required*
Required	Text	Specifies if the Custom Field is a required field. It must be one of the following: true false *Required*
SortOrder	Numeric	The position of this Custom Field in relation to other Custom Fields in the same Module. If the sort order is already in use then the Custom Field will be placed at the end of the list. *Optional*
Active	Text	Specifies if the Custom Field is active. It must be one of the following: true false *Required*
ListName	Text	Specifies the List associated with this Custom Field. It is required if the list is of types "Drop-Down List" or "Radio Button Group." *Optional*

Creating a CSV file

In order to import your data, you must first export it to a comma separated values (CSV) text file. All major spreadsheet programs can export data in this format. If you do not know how to export your data to a CSV file, please refer to the documentation of your spreadsheet program.

When exporting to CSV format, make sure to verify the following:

The data is formatted properly (see the first section)
The file must contain column names in the first row, using the column names in the table above.
Each custom field item to be added or updated is on its own line
Commas are used to separate fields
Text values are surrounded by double quotes