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Updating a dropdown field with the import tool
Updating a dropdown field with the import tool

How to update a dropdown field using the import integration tool.

Updated over a week ago

If you create a dropdown field for a table, you need to create a screen to add, edit, and delete options in this dropdown field. (For more information on how to create a dropdown field, check our article "Create a Custom Dropdown".)

However, using the import tool, you can add and edit the options in your dropdown field. You will be unable to, however, delete options via the import tool. 

Before you can do this, you will need to know the following information:

  • the table the dropdown field is based on

  • the field of the table which holds the options

Normally, the name of the table and the field is the name of the dropdown field itself.

In this article, we will cover:


Adding More Options to a Dropdown Field

In this example, we will add new options to the LeadSource table dropdown, and the data we wish to import can be copied from a text file or a spreadsheet.

  1. Click the Preferences icon in the upper right and click Integrations.

  2. Click Import which brings up the Import Wizard.

  3. For Select the type of data you'd like to import, choose Other.

  4. For Select an import method, click Paste from Excel.

  5. Paste into the text input box the options you'd like to import. The field name must be on the first line, and the rest of the options after that. Each option should be on a separate line.

  6. Under Choose a table, select the dropdown table you wish to import into.

  7. Click the Next button.

  8. The next screen is allows you to Map fields of your import. Since you specified the field name in the import, this should be mapped automatically for you, so click Next button.

  9. The next screen will show how many records you want to import for review. Click the Next button.

  10. The final screen gives you an overview before you import. Click the Import button to start the import.

  11. Once the import is complete, you will get a message of a Successful import!

Your options will now be available the dropdown!


Editing the Options of a Dropdown Field

In this example, we will modify the options in the LeadSource table dropdown. There are three main steps for this process:

  • Export the table

  • Edit the exported values

  • Import the modified values

EXPORT THE TABLE

  1. Click the Preferences icon in the upper right and click Integrations.

  2. Click Export to bring up the Export Wizard.

  3. For Tables and Fields, select your table. In this example, we will use LeadSource.

  4. Below that is the option of which fields to export. All of them should be selected by default, but uncheck LastModifiedDate. Then click the Export button.

  5. This will download the file as a .csv file.

EDIT THE EXPORTED .CSV FILE

With the downloaded .csv file:

  • Never change the RecordID field of any of row. This is how Method will know which record to update.

  • Edit the fields you want changed.

  • Delete entries you don't want changed (but it won't delete them from the table).

  • Select all the data, including the field header name, and copy the text you changed into your clipboard.

IMPORT THE MODIFIED VALUES

  1. Click the Preferences icon in the upper right and click Integrations.

  2. Click Import to bring up the Import Wizard.

  3. For Select the type of data you'd like to import, choose Other.

  4. For Select an import method, click Paste from Excel.

  5. Paste the data from above into the text input box. The data will look unaligned, as shown in the image below, however, they should be separated by a tab and will be okay. You can verify the data on the next screen.

  6. Under Choose a table, select the dropdown table you wish to import into.

  7. Click the Next button to go to Map Fields.

  8. In the Map Fields section, under What are you looking to do, select Update records.

  9. Below that will be a preview of what will be imported. In the upper right are the arrows which will cycle through the options you are importing.

  10. The next screen will show how many records you want to import for review. Click the Next button.

  11. The final screen gives you an overview before you import. Click the Import button to start the import.

  12. Once the import is complete, you will get a message of a Successful import!

Your options will now be updated in the dropdown!

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