Import Data to a Custom Object

Now that you have your new object created and the fields mapped, it’s time to go back into the spreadsheets and finish this import.

A process map with format data for import, import to staging fields, check your work, and import to target fields highlighted

Update the Template

Go to the NPSP Data Importer Templates page and download the Donation Import (Individuals) template. Open it, go to the Import Wizard Template tab, and then add your new fields.

Add a new column after Contact1 Last Name, and enter Contact1 Preferred Language in the header row.
Add another column after your new Contact1 Preferred Language column, and enter Contact1 Email Opt Out in the header row.
Add another column after the Donation Record Type Name column, and enter Donor Survey Status in the header row.
Delete the sample data in the first row.
Save the template but leave it open. You use it in the next step.

Tip

Remember that the Data Import templates are just a starting point. You can use them to create your own templates for the data you import most often.

Create Test Records

Now, create your test records.

In the first data row of the template, enter this information:

Contact1 First Name: Silas
Contact1 Last Name: Stetson
Contact1 Preferred Language: English
Contact1 Email Opt Out: False
Contact1 Personal Email: silas@mailinator.com
Contact1 Preferred Email: Personal
Donation Donor: Contact1
Donation Amount: 5000
Donation Date: Set to the last day of this month. Use the date format for your locale, such as MM/DD/YY. You may first need to change the formatting of the template file.
Donation Stage: Pledged
Donor Survey Status: Completed

In the second data row in the template, enter this information:

Contact1 First Name: Marie
Contact1 Last Name: Maldonado
Contact1 Preferred Language: Spanish
Contact1 Email Opt Out: False
Contact1 Personal Email: marie@mailinator.com
Contact1 Preferred Email: Personal
Donation Donor: Contact1
Donation Amount: 2500
Donation Date: Set to the last day of this month. Again, use the date format for your locale.
Donation Stage: Closed Won
Donor Survey Status: Thanked

Optionally, delete any unused columns. (If you do, you should have columns through letter K.)
Save the file as a .csv on your desktop.

Upload Your CSV to NPSP Data Import Objects

It’s time to test your work by importing it to NPSP Data Import objects.

Go to the App Launcher (), enter NPSP in the search bar, and select NPSP Data Imports.
Click Import.
On the Custom objects tab, click NPSP Data Imports.
Click Add new records under “What do you want to do?” and leave all of the associated settings as their defaults.
In the “Where is your data located?” panel, either drag your CSV to where it says “Drag CSV file here to upload” or click CSV and then Choose file to select the CSV you just saved.
Click Next.
You’re now on the Edit Field Mapping page. Make sure that your column headers in your CSV and the destinations in the NPSP Data Import object match (if you followed these instructions, they should), then click Next.
On the Review & Start Import page, you should see that the import will include 11 mapped fields and 0 unmapped fields. Click Start Import.
Click OK on the “Congratulations!” popup.

You’ll find yourself on a Bulk Data Load Jobs page again, where you can check the results in the Batches area.

Use the App Launcher ( The App Launcher icon ) to go back to the NPSP Data Imports page, then select the To Be Imported list view. Check the first record, for Silas Stetson, and scroll down to the bottom of the page to check that the donor survey data came through.

It looks like it did! You’ll notice that the Donor Survey Import Status and Donor Survey Imported fields are empty now, though, because those fields are automatically populated during the import.

The Donor Survey Information area on Silas Stetson’s NPSP Data Importer record

Perform an Import Dry Run

Now that the records are in NPSP Data Import objects, check them by performing an optional dry run to check for problems.

Starting on the To Be Imported list view on the NPSP Data Imports page, click Import All Data Import Records.
Leave the settings as they are for now, and click Begin Dry Run.
Wait for the dry run to complete, and then check the status. You should have 2 records processed and 2 records validated. Click Close.
Back on the NPSP Data Imports page, change the list view to Dry Run - Validated.

Check out the records. They should both be validated and ready for import.

The Dry Run - Validated list view showing your new NPSP Data Import records

Import Your Data

It’s import time!

On the Dry Run - Validated list view on the NPSP Data Import page, click Import All Data Import Records.
On the next page, leave the Configuration Options as they are and click Begin Data Import Process.
Wait for the import to complete—this might take a minute—and then check the status. You should have 2 records processed and 2 records validated. Click Close.

Check the Results

Back on the NPSP Data Imports page, select the Successfully Imported list view and click into the record for Silas Stetson.

Scroll down to the very bottom of the record to see the status update for the donor survey record. The Donor Survey Import Status should be Created, and you should see a link underneath Donor Survey Imported.

The Donor Survey Information area of the NPSP Data Import record for Silas Stetson

Click on the link in the Donor Survey Imported field to view the donor survey record.

The Details tab on the new donor survey record

You’ll see that the donor survey number was automatically created, the contact record was related by NPSP Data Importer, and your status was imported.

Now, click into the contact record and click on the Related tab. You can see that the donor survey was automatically related here, as well.

The Donor Surveys related list on a contact record

When you complete an import like this and you’re happy with the results, you’ll usually want to delete the NPSP Data Import staging records (check out the link in Resources below). Don’t do that in your playground now, though, because you check those records to complete this challenge.

One important exception to deleting NPSP Data Import records: If the records were created by a tool like Gift Entry, you may want to keep them around at least until after your annual audit is complete to show how the gift got into Salesforce.

The Tools for the Job

In this project you created new custom objects and fields, created corresponding staging fields on the NPSP Data Import object, used Advanced Mapping to create the fields, and imported data. Pat yourself on the back—this is a HUGE accomplishment!

The process map with falling confetti

The example from your friends at No More Homelessness (NMH) was pretty simple. But these are the same building blocks you’ll use whether you are importing data to a standard field not included in NPSP Data Importer, to your own custom elements, or to elements you added with an AppExchange app or other managed package.

And remember, you don’t have to go it alone. Check out the detailed documentation linked to in Resources throughout this project, and you can always turn to the Data Quality & Management group in the Trailblazer Community.

For now, celebrate this first step toward many importing adventures to come. If you’ve followed along with the instructions in this step, select your Trailhead Playground and click Verify to complete this project and receive your badge.

Tip

If you have questions about NPSP Data Importer after you complete this project, you can always turn to the community for help. Check out the Data Quality & Management group in the Trailblazer Community to ask questions and share advice.