Contact Import Tool

The Contact Import tool can allow users to quickly import new contacts into the system. It supports the importation of large quantities of people, which can make entering enormous amounts of data into the system a breeze!

Finding the Contact Import Tool

1. Navigate to the Contact Manager in Accounts > Contacts. 

2. Click Tasks > Import Contact. 

How to Add / Fill-in Information

The Contact Import tool has an exportable file, in which you can use to fill out information and reupload. For a detailed description of each column on the import spreadsheet, visit our help file here.

To export an empty template directly from the system, navigate to the Contact Import tool and check off Empty Template in the left hand corner.  This will allow you to download an Excel file from the system and import new counterparties.  Select Download Data to get a copy of the spreadsheet.

Once the spreadsheet is filled out, click Browse to open the file in cieTrade.  The new details can be imported by choosing Import Data in the right hand corner.

For a complete breakdown on the included data points and where they map to in cieTrade, please see here (PDF) .

NOTE: If you've added a Company Name, Location, or Role for a contact, the information must already exist in the system for the upload to work. The only required fields for the upload are the First & Last Name. However, we recommend adding the Company and Email Address so you can easily email documents to the contact when needed.

• Roles can be added in Settings > Common Information > Contact Roles.
• If you need to import Counterparties (customers and vendors) into the system, click here for a help file on how to use our Counterparty Import Tool.  

How to Update Existing Information

This tool can also be used to bulk update existing contacts in cieTrade.

To export the contacts, navigate to the tool.  The Contact Filters can be used as needed, to pull data ONLY from specific counterparty companies and locations, and/or only with specific roles assigned.  Click Download Data to produce an Excel spreadsheet with the information.

All new details can be added to the template that was generated from the system.  Once you've finished updating/adding your contacts, save the file and select Browse... on the import tool.  This will allow you to select the file and choose Import Data to update your contacts.  The information in cieTrade will now match what you've filled out on your spreadsheet.

Flagged Cells & Common Issues

Upon uploading the spreadsheet, you may run into a problem where a handful or more data cells are flagged, which will prevent the upload from being completed. The most common cause of a flagged cell is due to an issue with the information in the cell, or the format that it is in. After the validation check, which occurs upon clicking the Import Data button, a comment will be added to any flagged cell detailing the reason why it was flagged.