PSFS Offering - Import: How to format a contribution import file – ParishSOFT

How to format a contribution import file

You can import contribution data into ParishSOFT by creating a CSV file in the format that the ParishSOFT software will read.

Creating an Import File

The import file can have any name, but it must be saved in CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format.
In Windows, it must have a .csv (comma separated value) extension.
The file must contain contribution records only—no pledge records are accepted.

To view an example of an import file, see Import File Example.

After you create the file save it to your hard drive. Make note of where you save the file because you will need to locate it when you do the import.

Header Information

The first row of the import file contains the header. The header is required and must contain the following information:

Column	Expected Data	Description
A	H	Identifies the header row.
B	Organization ID	Organization ID.
C	2	Identifies the type of data in the file. 2: indicates that the file contains contributions only.

Contribution Data

Contribution data immediately follows the header row. Each contribution record occupies a single row. The following tables detail the required and optional data in a contribution record.

Required Contribution Data

The data required in each contribution record is identified in the following table. If a given record is missing any this data, the system cannot import it.

Column	Expected Data	Description
A	C	C: Identifies a contribution record.
B	Envelope #	Family envelope number. Data in this column is required if your system is configured to use the family envelope number as the preferred identifier for family and member contributions. The option that sets the envelope number as the identifier is located in the Administration module on the Module Settings page. Only a user with organization administrator privileges can configure the option. If desired, your organization can choose to use the Diocesan ID as the preferred identifier. See description for Column K in the Optional Contribution Data table.
C	Amount	Contribution amount in xx.xx format.
D	Date	Contribution date in mm/dd/yyyy format.
E	Fund ID	Fund ID from ParishSOFT Offering. See where to find the Fund ID in the example below. IMPORTANT: Make sure the Fund End Date has not passed or you will create a problem that will require extra work to fix.

Optional Contribution Data

A contribution record can contain the data defined in the following table (exception: Column J), but this data is not required.

Column	Expected Data	Description
F	Check number	Check number. Any combination of alphanumeric characters. Up to 50 characters allowed.
G	Cash, Credit, Check	Payment Type.
H	Memo	Memo text. Any combination of alphanumeric characters. Up to 980 characters allowed.
I	Pledge DUID	Pledge ID. Must be an integer. Letters, symbols, and spaces are not allowed.
J	External Contribution ID	External Contribution ID. Always DELETE Column J (Contribution ID column) from your exported data file. These are numbers generated by the giving platform which have no relation to PSFS but often do conflict with existing Contrib IDs.
K	Diocesan ID	Diocesan ID. Any combination of alphanumeric characters. Up to 20 characters allowed. Data in this column is required if your system is configured to use the Diocesan ID as the preferred identifier for family and member contributions. The option that sets the Diocesan ID as the identifier is located in the Administration module on the Module Settings page. Only a user with organization administrator privileges can configure the option. If desired, your organization can choose to use the envelope number as the preferred identifier. See description for Column B in the Required Contribution Data table.
L	0 or 1	0: indicates that the contribution is not anonymous. 1: indicates that the contribution is anonymous.

Back to Required Contribution Table

Import File Example

The following illustration shows you an example of an import file containing contribution data from non-ParishSOFT systems. Note that the first row contains header information. The remaining rows in the file contain contribution data in the imported records: