Imports and Exports
(Redirected from CSV Imports and Exports)
Fishbowl can import and export information through Comma Separated Values (CSV) files. CSV files can be viewed and edited in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel, or in any text editor. Fishbowl can also import data from TXT, XLS, and XLSX files.
- Imports provide a convenient way to bring external data into Fishbowl (update a vendor part list, import an order from an online shopping cart, etc.)
- Exports allow Fishbowl data to be used externally (update a website with product prices, export a list of customers, etc.)
- The
Schedule module allows imports or exports to run automatically. - The
Import Mapping module allows files to be imported, even if the column headers don't match the Fishbowl format. This allows many external files to be imported into Fishbowl without modification.
Contents
Using imports and exports
The list of imports and exports, along with the corresponding documentation, can be found in the Fishbowl Client. The following steps outline the basic use of imports/exports:
- Click the File Menu at the top-left of the Fishbowl Client and choose Import or Export.
- Select an import/export from the list. The list can be filtered by typing any portion of import/export name. A brief description of the selected import/export is given in the lower pane.
- Click Next to read the instructions for an import/export. A template can be saved and opened by clicking the Export Template button.
- Click Next to choose the file to be imported/exported.
- Fishbowl can also import data from TXT, XLS, and XLSX files.
- Click Finish to complete the import/export.
Templates
Fishbowl provides two ways to create CSV templates that contain the column headers or the actual data as well.
- HEADERS - Click the Export Template button at the top of the instructions for any import or export. This will create a CSV file with the column headers and the headers for any custom fields that are used in the database.
- DATA - Use the corresponding CSV export to export the actual data in the database. For example, to import products, first export the Product CSV by clicking the File menu and then selecting Export. In some cases, to avoid duplicates, the exported data should be modified or removed before importing the file.
Import tips
- The Import Mapping module allows files to be imported, even if the column headers don't match the Fishbowl format. This allows many external files to be imported into Fishbowl without modification.
- The
BOM Import module allows user to import parts, products, and BOMs. This allows many external files to be imported into Fishbowl without modification. - Most imports have a corresponding export. It is often easiest to first export a CSV and then use that file as a template for the import. This export will include actual data from the database.
- To create a template with just the column headers, click the Export Template button on the Instructions step of the wizard.
- Data in a CSV import must be formatted exactly as the import instructions specify.
- Many imports require column names in the first row and some columns are case sensitive.
- The maximum number of items that can be imported at once depends largely on the computer hardware. Large imports may take several minutes.
- If the client logs out before the import finishes, try extending the client inactivity time. If Fishbowl continues to become unresponsive, it may be necessary to separate the import into smaller sections and import each section individually. Alternatively, imports can be committed after each line.
Import CSV to Excel
In some cases, it may be necessary to import a CSV into Excel, instead of just opening the file in Excel. This can prevent issues with numbers and formatting. For example, if a Fishbowl part number is 0123, Excel may format it as 123. Follow the directions below to avoid this issue.
- Open Excel, click the the Data menu, and then click From Text.
- Select the CSV file that was exported from Fishbowl and then click Next.
- Change Tab to Comma and then click Next.
- Select all columns by holding down the shift key and clicking the last column. Then change General to Text and click Finish.
- Select a location and then click OK.
List of imports and exports
Below is a list of CSV imports and exports available in Fishbowl. Click the Instructions link to see the instructions for each CSV. These instructions are also included in the Fishbowl Client. The Import Mapping module also allows files to be imported, even if the column headers don't match the Fishbowl format. This allows many external files to be imported into Fishbowl without modification.
| Name | Description | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Add Inventory | Import to add inventory. The quantity in the import will increase (not adjust) existing inventory. | Import Instructions |
| Associated Pricing | Import/Export associated pricing. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Associated Pricing Type | Import/Export associated pricing types. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Bill of Materials | Import/Export a bill of materials. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Bill of Materials Details | Import/Export details for a bill of materials. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Bill of Materials Instructions | Import/Export instruction steps for a bill of materials. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Carriers | Import/Export carriers. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Country And State | Import/Export Country and State information. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Currency | Import/Export currency conversion information. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Custom Field Data | Import custom field data. | Import Instructions |
| Custom Field Lists | Import/Export custom field lists. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Custom Fields | Import/Export custom fields. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Customer Group Relations | Import/Export customer group relations. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Customer Parts | Import/Export customer part numbers. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Customers | Import/Export customers. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Cycle Count Data | Import/Export to perform a cycle count. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Default Locations | Import/Export part default locations. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Discounts | Import/Export discounts. | Import/Export Instructions |
| EDI Shipping | Export an EDI Shipping 856SOPI file. | Export Instructions |
| Generic Shopping Cart | Import information from a generic shopping cart. | Import Instructions |
| Inventory Move | Import to perform an inventory move. | Import Instructions |
| Inventory Quantities | Export current inventory quantities. | Export Instructions |
| Kit Items | Import/Export kit items. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Locations | Import/Export locations and Location Groups. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Memo Data | Import memo data information. | Import Instructions |
| MIVA Shopping Cart | Import information from a MIVA shopping cart. | Import Instructions |
| OS Commerce Shopping Cart | Import information from an OS Commerce shopping cart. | Import Instructions |
| Packing Data | Import orders that have been packed. | Import Instructions |
| Part | Import/Export parts. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Part and Product Renaming | Import/Export part and product names. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Part and Quantity | Import basic part information and quantity. | Import Instructions |
| Part Cost | Import/Export part average costs. | Import Instructions - Export Instructions |
| Part, Product, and Vendor Pricing | Import/Export part, product and vendor pricing. | Import Instructions - Export Instructions |
| Part Standard Cost | Import/Export part standard costs. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Part Units of Measure | Import/Export part units of measure. | Import Instructions - Export Instructions |
| Payment Data | Import/Export payments. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Payment Terms | Import/Export payment terms. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Picking Data | Import orders that have been picked. | Import Instructions |
| Pricing Rules | Import/Export pricing rules. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Product | Import/Export products. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Product Pricing | Import/Export prices for products. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Product Tree | Import/Export products and the corresponding product tree categories. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Product Tree Categories | Import/Export product tree categories. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Purchase Order | Import/Export purchase orders. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Purchase Order As Sales Order | Export a purchase order that can be imported as a sales order. | Export Instructions |
| Purchase Order Line Items | Export purchase order line items. | Export Instructions |
| QuickBooks Class | Import/Export classes. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Receiving Data | Import/Export a record of what needs to be received from outstanding purchase orders. | Import Instructions - Export Instructions |
| Reorder Levels | Import/Export reorder levels. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Sales Order | Import/Export sales orders. | Import Instructions - Export Instructions |
| Sales Order Details | Import/Export changes to sales order details. | Import Instructions - Export Instructions |
| Scrap Data | Import details of inventory that has been scrapped. | Import Instructions |
| Ship Carton | Export ship carton information. | Export Instructions |
| Ship Carton Tracking | Import/Export ship carton tracking information. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Shipping Data | Import orders that have been shipped. | Import Instructions |
| Tag Information | Export inventory tags. A tag is an internal number used to group similar items together. | Export Instructions |
| Tax Rates | Import/Export tax rates. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Transfer Order | Import/Export transfer orders. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Unit of Measure Conversions | Import/Export unit of measure conversions. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Units of Measure | Import/Export units of measure. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Users | Import/Export users. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Vendor Cost Rules | Import/Export vendor cost rules. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Vendor Parts | Import/Export vendor part information. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Vendors | Import/Export vendors. | Import/Export Instructions |
| Yahoo Shopping Cart | Import information from a Yahoo Shopping Cart. | Import Instructions |
| Work Order Steps | Import/Export work order instruction steps. | Import/Export Instructions |
Suggested order of imports
Below is the suggested order of importing (or manually entering) data into Fishbowl when creating a new database:
- Units of Measure
- Unit of Measure Conversions
- Location Groups/Locations
- User/User Rights
- Payment Terms
- Carriers
- Custom Fields
- Vendors*
- Tax Rates
- Customers*
- Customer Group Relations
- Part Product And Vendor Pricing*
- Kit Items
- Default Locations
- Add Inventory*
- Bill of Materials*
- Product Tree Categories
- Product Tree
- Pricing Rules
- Sales Orders*
- Purchase Orders*
* This is essential data needed to utilize Fishbowl's features. These can be imported from QuickBooks via the Accounting Configuration Wizard.