--- title: Import Tool FAQs description: Frequently Asked Questions --- [Skip to content](https://help.samaritan.com/import-tool-faqs#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Submit a support request](https://help.samaritan.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Customer portal](https://help.samaritan.com/tickets-view?hsLang=en) ![eCLogo.png\]](https://help.samaritan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/eCLogo.png?height=40&name=eCLogo.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Submit a support request](https://help.samaritan.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Customer portal](https://help.samaritan.com/tickets-view) - Go to samaritan.com Go to samaritan.com Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Samaritan Help Center](https://help.samaritan.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Samaritan Import Data Tool](https://help.samaritan.com/samaritan-import-data-tool?hsLang=en) # Import Tool FAQs ![:question\_mark:](https://pf-emoji-service--cdn.us-east-1.prod.public.atl-paas.net/atlassian/question_mark_32.png) How do I make sure that the spreadsheet will update to the correct fields? ✅ You will need to “Map” the data. The columns in your spreadsheet define the field names. So will need to match the column headers in your spreadsheet to the correct field names in the database. For example: If I have a column header called “Permission Status” that is a drop-down field and the values describe which stage a volunteer is at in their process; and that status limits certain actions, then you could find that this field matches the Samaritan field called “Activity Status.” To map the data, you would first edit the Samaritan Activity Status values so that they are the same as your “Permission Status.” Next, you would change your column name in your spreadsheet **from** “Permission Status” **to** “Activity Status.”   ![:question\_mark:](https://pf-emoji-service--cdn.us-east-1.prod.public.atl-paas.net/atlassian/question_mark_32.png) I want to update the data in my system by exporting it into a spreadsheet and editing the spreadsheet before I import it. How do I export? ✅ You can simply run a grid data report and export it to a .xlsx or .csv file. This will allow you to open a spreadsheet where you can edit and then re-Import the sheet with new values.   ![:question\_mark:](https://pf-emoji-service--cdn.us-east-1.prod.public.atl-paas.net/atlassian/question_mark_32.png) What if I have no new data for certain records and I want to overwrite old data in the database so that I can have an empty column, which will require the input of NEW data? ✅ You can enter **NULL** in the cell to represent an empty value. (Please do not use " ")   ![:question\_mark:](https://pf-emoji-service--cdn.us-east-1.prod.public.atl-paas.net/atlassian/question_mark_32.png) What if I import duplicate records, do subsequent duplicate entries overwrite prior values? ✅ No. Import Tool (unlike Pavel’s import process) will only capture the 1st instance of data imported on a Unique Identifier. Any further updates on the same record will NOT be executed, but instead return the error “Row skipped because duplicate of unique values found in row #xx”   ![](https://help.samaritan.com/hubfs/image-png-Nov-04-2022-10-18-01-8096-PM.png)   - [What's New](https://help.samaritan.com/whats-new?hsLang=en) - [Getting Started](https://help.samaritan.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Account Basics & Setup](https://help.samaritan.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#account-basics-setup) - [Product Orientation & Basic Navigation](https://help.samaritan.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#product-orientation-basic-navigation) - [Record Management](https://help.samaritan.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#record-management) - [Reports](https://help.samaritan.com/reports?hsLang=en) - [Email & Text Messaging](https://help.samaritan.com/email-text-messaging?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Troubleshooting](https://help.samaritan.com/email-text-messaging?hsLang=en#troubleshooting) - [Automated Emails](https://help.samaritan.com/email-text-messaging?hsLang=en#automated-emails) - [Opportunities](https://help.samaritan.com/opportunities?hsLang=en) - [Grids & Filters](https://help.samaritan.com/grids-filters?hsLang=en) - [Log Book](https://help.samaritan.com/log-book?hsLang=en) - [Scheduling](https://help.samaritan.com/scheduling?hsLang=en) - [Volunteers](https://help.samaritan.com/volunteers?hsLang=en) - [Surveys](https://help.samaritan.com/surveys?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Build a survey](https://help.samaritan.com/surveys?hsLang=en#build-a-survey) - [Sign-In Stations](https://help.samaritan.com/sign-in-stations?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Sign-In Station Basics & Setup](https://help.samaritan.com/sign-in-stations?hsLang=en#sign-in-station-basics-setup) - [How to build a Sign-In Station](https://help.samaritan.com/sign-in-stations?hsLang=en#how-to-build-a-sign-in-station) - [Attach a Sign-In Station to a Service Opportunity](https://help.samaritan.com/sign-in-stations?hsLang=en#attach-a-sign-in-station-to-a-service-opportunity) - [View and share a Sign-In Station](https://help.samaritan.com/sign-in-stations?hsLang=en#view-and-share-a-sign-in-station) - [Managing Sign-In Stations](https://help.samaritan.com/sign-in-stations?hsLang=en#managing-sign-in-stations) - [Troubleshooting Sign-In Stations](https://help.samaritan.com/sign-in-stations?hsLang=en#troubleshooting-sign-in-stations) - [New Features for the Sign-In Station](https://help.samaritan.com/sign-in-stations?hsLang=en#new-features-for-the-sign-in-station) - [Advanced Topics](https://help.samaritan.com/advanced-topics?hsLang=en#main-content) - [User Defined Fields (UDFs)](https://help.samaritan.com/advanced-topics?hsLang=en#user-defined-fields-udfs) - [Automations](https://help.samaritan.com/advanced-topics?hsLang=en#automations) - [Get Help](https://help.samaritan.com/get-help?hsLang=en) - [Samaritan Import Data Tool](https://help.samaritan.com/samaritan-import-data-tool?hsLang=en) - [Messaging](https://help.samaritan.com/messaging?hsLang=en) [![Samaritan Technologies](https://help.samaritan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Samaritan-Logo-Final-Horizontal.png?width=806&height=253&name=Samaritan-Logo-Final-Horizontal.png "Samaritan Technologies")](http://samaritan.com) samaritan.com Help Center Copyright © 2026, Samaritan