Update Existing Records via Import

Overview¶

Need to update many records at once? Instead of editing them one by one, use the CSV import to bulk update existing records.

Use cases:

• Update job titles for multiple people
• Change company information in bulk
• Add data to new custom fields
• Correct data errors across many records

How It Works¶

When you import a file containing a unique identifier that matches an existing record, Grovana updates that record instead of creating a duplicate.

Step 1: Export Your Current Data¶

First, export the records you want to update:

1. Navigate to the object (People, Companies, etc.)
2. Add the columns you need — click Options → Fields to show the fields you want to update
3. Filter if needed — narrow down to only the records you want to update
4. Click ⋮ → Export view
5. Save the CSV file

What Gets Exported¶

• All visible columns in your current view
• The record's unique identifiers (id, email, domain)
• Current field values you can modify

Step 2: Edit the CSV File¶

Open the exported file in your spreadsheet application (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.):

1. Keep the unique identifier column — don't delete id, email, or domain
2. Update the values in the columns you want to change
3. Remove columns you don't need to update (optional, but cleaner)
4. Don't change unique identifier values — or Grovana will create new records

Example: Updating Job Titles¶

Exported file:

id,email,firstName,lastName,jobTitle
550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440001,[email protected],John,Smith,Sales Rep
550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440002,[email protected],Jane,Doe,Sales Rep
550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440003,[email protected],Bob,Johnson,Sales Rep

After your edits:

id,email,firstName,lastName,jobTitle
550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440001,[email protected],John,Smith,Account Executive
550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440002,[email protected],Jane,Doe,Senior Account Executive
550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440003,[email protected],Bob,Johnson,Account Executive

Step 3: Import the Updated File¶

1. Navigate to the object
2. Click ⋮ → Import records
3. Upload your edited CSV file
4. Ensure the unique identifier is mapped — verify email, domain, or id is mapped correctly
5. Review the field mappings
6. Check for errors
7. Click Confirm

Grovana matches records by the unique identifier and updates them with new values.

Choosing the Right Unique Identifier¶

Using Custom Unique Fields¶

If you have a custom field marked as unique (like an external ID from another system):

1. Include that field in your export and import
2. Map it during import
3. Grovana will match on that field

Step 4: Verify the Updates¶

After importing:

1. Open a few updated records
2. Verify the changes were applied
3. Check that no duplicate records were created

What About Fields Not in Your File?¶

Fields not included in your import file remain unchanged.

This means you only need to include the fields you want to change (plus the unique identifier).

Combining Updates and New Records¶

You can update existing records AND create new ones in the same import:

email,firstName,lastName,jobTitle
[email protected],John,Smith,Senior Manager    ← Updates existing (email matches)
[email protected],New,Person,Analyst      ← Creates new (email doesn't match)

Common Mistakes to Avoid¶

FAQ¶

Best Practices¶

1. Export first — always start from an export to ensure correct format
2. Backup before updating — export your data before making bulk changes
3. Test with a few records — try updating 5-10 records first before doing a large batch
4. Use human-readable identifiers — email and domain are easier to verify than id
5. Only include necessary columns — fewer columns means less chance for errors

Troubleshooting¶

Having issues? Check:

• How to Fix Import Errors
• Uniqueness Constraints
• Field Mapping Reference