Importing Inventory

Before You Start

What you’ll need

• Inventory import permission enabled for your account
• A clean CSV file (see List Hygiene and File Tips below)

How to Import Inventory

1. Go to Menu → Inventory → List
2. Click the micromenu (three dots) toward the top right of the page
3. Click Import
4. Upload your file
   • Optional: Give the import a name for ease of reference later
   • Click where indicated and select the appropriate file
   • Click Open Field Mapper
5. Set headers
   • Spark will pre-select the row that looks like it contains column headers; if needed, choose a different row
   • Once the correct row is selected, click Confirm selection and continue
   • If your list has no column headers, click This file has no column names
6. Match columns
   • Spark will provide field matching selections where possible; review the matches to confirm they are correct, make any necessary updates
   • Add matches for any fields for which no match was suggested
   • Optional: If you want to skip a field, click the Ignore button to its right
   • Click Confirm matching and continue
7. Bulk fix/Review
   • Spark will scan for certain formatting errors and items where the file content does not match the available options in Spark; items that need your attention will be highlighted for you, and you can hover over the cell to see the error message
   • For formatting errors, click in the cell to make corrections
   • For matching errors, choose an option from the drop down list
   • Optional: export the rows with errors to fix and import later
   • Once you have corrected the errors (or chosen to proceed with errors present), click Finish Bulk fix/Review
     • If you have chosen to proceed with errors present, those rows will be ignored and those contacts will not be imported
8. Click Start Import

Once the import is complete, it is a good idea to review the units. Click View Inventories to see a list of the units that were added or updated by your import.

List Hygiene and File Tips

For smoother imports and fewer errors:

• Use one unit per row
• Make sure column headers are clear and consistent
• Remove extra header rows, totals, or notes from the top and bottom of the file
• Save the file as CSV (comma-separated values) before uploading
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any required fields?

Yes! Unit name/number is required so that the system knows what to match the other data to. If you are importing to update information, be sure the unit name/number on your spreadsheet exactly matches what's in Spark or you will create new units instead.

How many records can I import at once?

We've got you covered, even for large imports! You can report up to 100K records at a time.

Can I undo or roll back an import?

There is no “undo” option for an import. You may wish to export your inventory units (include the inventory ID, unit, and all of the information on your import spreadsheet) before starting your import - that way, you have a backup of the data to use as a basis for restoring information if it is changed by the import. 

What happens if a unit in my list is already in Spark?

If a unit in your import file already exists in Spark, that contact record will be updated with the information from your list rather than creating a duplicate. If you want to update some information for existing units but not other information, remove the information you do not want to update from your spreadsheet. If you do not want to update any information for existing units, remove these units from your spreadsheet entirely.

What happens to rows with errors if I continue the import anyway?

These rows are skipped and the units contained in those rows will not be imported.