Before conducting an import from Excel, it is important to know which contact fields will be imported and any restrictions, which fields are optional, and best practices before you get started.
Best practices
There are several things to think about when importing from Excel:
- Confirm your files contain data.
- To import multiple pages, save each page as a separate file.
- Make sure the information you want to import appears on the first page of your workbook.
- Make sure your spreadsheet has a header row. QuickBooks Online uses the first line for mapping purposes and does not import it.
Import field: Full Name
The first, middle, and last name must appear in a single column or field before importing.
Restrictions:
- At least one of the name fields in the originating file must contain a name.
- A name cannot exceed 100 characters.
- A name cannot include a tab, newline, colon (:), or quotation mark (").
- Names must be unique between your contact lists - Employee, Customer, and Supplier.
Import field: Email
Restrictions:
- Cannot contain spaces, and must contain an at sign (@) and a period.
Example: your_name@business.com.
- Limit of 100 characters.
Import fields: Phone, Mobile, and Fax
Restrictions:
- Phone: No formatting restrictions; limit of 21 characters.
- Mobile: No formatting restrictions; limit of 21 characters.
- Fax: No formatting restrictions; limit of 21 characters.
Import field: Country
If left blank, defaults to your home country.
Restrictions: Limit of 255 characters.
Opening Balance
(Optional) Balance of the account as of the Opening Balance Date, in the account's currency.
Restrictions: None.
Import field: Account Number
The account number of the customer or supplier account. This allows you to group customers or suppliers into a single account or assign a unique account for each customer or supplier.
Restrictions: The account number must follow these rules: It must start with 411 for customers, and 401 for suppliers. It must be between 6 - 15 digits. It can contain both numbers and letters. If the account number is not present, a customer is automatically assigned to account 411001, and a supplier is automatically assigned to account 401001.
