Message & Donation Imports

Available on Non-profit accounts with the Pro membership plan

Using a CSV file, this facility allows you to import multiple messages and offline donations, and allocate them to objects on a page.

Object References

Before preparing a CSV file, you will need to know the references of each object type available on a page.

• Navigate to Info & Tools on a published page.
• From the Message Imports section, familiarise with the Object Summary table.

This table will display one or more object types available, and their unique letter reference (A, B, C etc.). These references will need to be specified on each row in your file, to allocate a message to a particular object.

CSV File

Using your preferred spreadsheet application such as Excel or Google Sheets, you can begin to create your CSV file.

• The first row of the spreadsheet (header) must contain specific names to identify each column.
• Each row below the header will contain the data of each message to import.

Download this template if required, which contains all allowed headers and some example data.

Below are the accepted header names, and the data requirements for each column:

object

This header and column is required. Use a single object reference on each row, to allocate each message to an object.

If you do not wish to allocate a message to an object, use Z for the reference.

amount

Use this column to optionally include a donation value for each record.

• Values between 0-100000000 are accepted.
• Values left blank are assumed to be zero.

If this header/column is omitted, all imported records will be assigned a zero donation value.

showamount

Use this column to indicate if you want the donation amount (above zero) to be displayed on a message.

• Use 1 to display the donation amount.
• Use 0 or leave blank for no display.

If this header/column is omitted, all imported records will not display the donation amount.

to

This column should contain the 'To' content of a message, such as who it is remembering or dedicated to.

• Maximum of 75 characters
• Avoid using emojis

Please note: This data will only display on a page if the message format preset (Page Settings) is NOT set to Standard.

message

This column contains the general 'Message' content of a message.

• Maximum of 500 characters
• Avoid using emojis

from

This column contains the 'From' content of a message, such as the donor name.

• Maximum of 75 characters
• Avoid using emojis

Save as CSV

Once you have populated your spreadsheet with data to import, save/export to a CSV file. The default settings when saving a CSV file should suffice; if you encounter issues uploading a file in the next steps, check the following:

• The header should not contain any names that are not specified above.
• Ensure the file has no more than 100 records (101 rows including the header).
• File is saved using unicode (UTF-8) character set.
• Uses Comma (,) field delimiter.
• Uses Double quote (") string delimiter.

Upload, Validate & Review

To upload your file and validate:

• Navigate to your page's Settings or Info & Tools
• Click Import Messages from the submenu.
• Click Upload File.
• Select the CSV file you have saved.

If for any reason an upload or validation fails, an error message (in red) will be displayed. If an error does occur: return to your spreadsheet, correct any issues, save the file again and attempt another upload.

On success, you will be able to review the data about to be imported.

• The Object Summary table describes how many of each object will be used under Import Qty.
• A message may display telling you how many (estimated) page expansions will occur.
• The Records table shows all messages to be imported. An amount in bold indicates the donation amount will be displayed with the message.

If something doesn't look right, you can upload another file with changes. This will remove any records from a previous upload.

Import

Once you have reviewed the data you can click Start Import!.

When the import has finished, a message icon will appear next to each record. You can click on this icon to view the message/donation on the page.

Revert Import

If an import partially fails, or you require to roll-back due to a mistake, click Revert Import.

This will delete all the messages on the page created from the import. It will also attempt to revert any page expansions that are no longer required.

If you need to perform another import, you will be required to click Import Messages from the submenu again.

Limitations & Other Information

• A page must have been previously published to use message imports.
• You must include content in at least one of the to, message or from columns for each record/row.
• Blank substitution settings (Page Settings) are ignored.
• Import files must not contain more than 100 records (101 rows including the header).
• Z referenced objects will to be allocated on the first page with object availability.
• Images cannot be imported. You can add images by editing messages after an import.
• Object types that have a colour choice are assigned a random colour, using the colours defined in Page Settings. You can change the colour of an individual object by editing a message after import.
• An object group Enabled setting is ignored (Page Settings). You can import using object groups that have been disabled.
• The Auto-Expand rule (Page Settings) is ignored. Pages will automatically expand during an import, if an object type is specified and not currently available.
• The Message Imports section in Info & Tools will list imports in the last 30 days. You can click on these records to view the details of a particular import.