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Prepare source files for import

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Before you can import data into Microsoft Dataverse, you must create the source data files.

The data source files that you use in an import must be formatted as comma-separated values (.csv), XML Spreadsheet 2003 (.xml), or text files. The use of source files enables the transfer of data from database systems that use different formats into Dataverse.

A source file may contain data for one table or multiple tables, such as accounts and contacts. For the source files that contain multiple table data, you must provide a map that includes the <EntitiesPerFile> tag. Set the value of this tag to “Multiple” to indicate that there is more than one table type in the source file. Add the Dedupe = “Eliminate” column to the <EntityMap> tag. This assures that if the file contains duplicate rows for the table type, a single row is used to minimize lookup related errors.

You can download an example of a data map with multiple table types from Microsoft Downloads: DataImportMaps.zip. Look at the MapForSalesForceContactAccount.xml file.

The column values in the source file can be separated by commas, tabs, or other characters that are defined in the ImportFile.FieldDelimiterCode column.

Note

Do not use non-printable characters, null (\0) or break (\b), as delimiters for the column values.

The first row in the source file should contain column headings. If you do not include headings, use the ImportFile.IsFirstRowHeader column to specify that the first row represents actual data. In this case, default column headings are created with the names Col1, Col2, and so on.

See Also

Import data
Create data maps for import
Add transformation mappings for import
Configure data import
Run data import
Data import tables
Sample: Export and import a data map
Sample: Import data using complex data map