The Import Process

What You'll Learn

This guide walks you through the complete import process in Knack. You'll discover how to create new tables from imported data, update existing tables, configure field mapping, and handle any issues that may arise during import.

Import Limits

Before starting the import process, be aware of these limitations:

• Maximum file size: 250 MB
• Trial users are limited to 10,000 records

Creating a New Table

You can create a new table by importing data directly from a spreadsheet or other file format.

Step 1: Start the Table Creation Process

1. Navigate to the Data section in the Builder
2. Click the "+" button in the left panel to add a new table

Step 2: Choose Your Import Method

You'll see several options for creating a table:

• Upload a file (drag and drop or browse)
• Import from Google Sheets

Step 3: Upload Your Data File

1. Drag and drop your file into the designated area or browse to select it
2. Supported formats: CSV, XLS, XLSX, or Google Sheets
3. If your file has multiple sheets/tabs, you'll be able to select which one to import

Step 4: Configure Field Types

After uploading your file, Knack will analyze your data and try to predict field types

1. Review the field type predictions for each column
2. Adjust field types as needed using the dropdown menus
3. Uncheck any columns you don't want to import
4. Set a name for your new table (by default, it uses your file name)

Note: You won't be able to map columns to non-mutable fields like auto-increment or formula fields.

Step 5: Configure Special Field Types

For special field types like Person (Name), Address, and Date/Time fields, you'll need to configure additional settings:

Person Field Options

Map your columns to:

• Title
• First Name
• Middle Name
• Last Name

Address Field Options

Map your columns to:

• Street Address
• Street Address 2
• City
• State/Region/Province
• Zip/Postal Code
• Country
• Latitude
• Longitude

Date/Time Field Options

Configure format settings:

• Date format (mm/dd/yyyy, dd/mm/yyyy, M D, yyyy, or Ignore Date)
• Time format (HH:MM am/pm, HH:MM 24-hour, or Ignore Time)

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Predicting Field Types

Knack can predict certain field types during the import process.

If you import any columns with valid HTML, we will automatically recognize them as new rich text fields. Similarly, if you import values in any of our supported phone formats, we will identify the column as a new phone field.

When you import valid URL formats, Knack will automatically identify the column as a new link field. If the URL ends in a supported image format, it will be predicted as an Image field.

Tip: Batch Importing Images
You can import images in batches. However, please note that the image field should be set to upload, not URL. In the import file, you will find either an tag or URLs to the images, depending on where they are currently hosted.

When you import the images, they will be automatically uploaded to our image server. However, please note that there may be some issues when importing images from Dropbox URLs. The URLs must be specific image URLs that are publicly accessible for the import to work correctly.

Step 6: Confirm and Start Import

1. Review the import summary showing the number of records being imported
2. Select how to handle records with import errors:
   • Skip records with errors
   • Cancel the entire import if any error is found
3. Click "Import" to begin the process

Step 7: Monitor Import Progress

After starting the import:

1. You'll be directed to the Records view of your new table
2. A progress bar will display the import status
3. You can cancel the import while it's in progress if needed

Note: The import process may take some time, especially for large datasets (over 1,000 records) or when establishing connections. Avoid making changes to the table during import.

Updating an Existing Table

You can also import data to update records in an existing table.

Step 1: Navigate to the Existing Table

1. Go to the DataTable you want to import into
2. Click the ellipses (...) next to the table name
3. Select import

Step 2: Upload Your Data File

1. Upload your file using the same methods described earlier
2. If your file has multiple sheets/tabs, select which one to import

Step 3: Map Columns to Existing Fields

After uploading your file:

1. Knack will attempt to match your columns to existing fields
2. Review the suggested mappings
3. Adjust as needed using the dropdown menus for each column
4. Uncheck any columns you don't want to import

Advanced Import Options

Knack offers several advanced options for updating existing tables:

Record Matching Options

When importing into an existing table, you can specify:

1. Whether to update existing records or insert all as new records
2. Which fields to use for matching existing records
3. What to do when no matching record is found:
   • Insert as a new record
   • Skip the row entirely

Errors and Empty Values

Handle Errors:

If there is an error in a field while importing, you can chose to leave the field empty, and import the rest of the fields in the row, or, exclude entire rows that contain an error.

You can also set default values for empty fields:

1. Select a field from the dropdown
2. Specify the default value to use
3. Add multiple defaults by clicking the "+" icon

After Import

Once the import is complete:

1. Review your imported records for any issues
2. Field names are created automatically using the column headers
3. You can edit field names and settings as needed after import

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Notes on Importing

• The name of the table can be edited in the top left input field or by going into the table's settings once it is created.
• If you have multiple tabs in your data file, you can select which one you would like to import in the dropdown above the field type predictions (Choose tab to import).
• You can uncheck any columns to prevent them from being imported.
• You will not be able to map columns to any fields in your existing table that are non-mutable, such as auto-increment or formula fields.
• Required field settings are not enforced during import via the Builder
• Unique field settings are not enforced during import via the Builder
• Some field types cannot be mapped during import, including file fields and signature fields
• At this time, 250MB is the file size limit for any file type.
• Due to the differences between Excel and Knack formulas and syntax, formulas are not preserved on import, but the values are.
• Values in cells are imported. Cell formatting, such as bold, colors, and font formats are not imported.

Example: Importing into an existing table, with multi-part fields

Example: Importing to update connected records