Importing Connections

This article provides an explanation on how to utilize Knack's import feature to establish connections with other records.

You have the ability to utilize an import feature to establish connections with other records. By importing records into an existing table, you have the flexibility to select which field from that table should match the corresponding column in the file you are importing.

Furthermore, it is also possible to match a column in your file with a field in a connecting table. Knack will then use that match to find a record to connect to.

The connection fields will have the symbol:

connections1

In the example above, we’re importing a file containing Account records. We’re matching the data in the CSV file to the records that already exist in Knack using the "Company" column.

This field was chosen because it contains a unique value for each record.

The import will use the value of that column to search for any Company records that have the same value. If Knack finds a match, it will connect the Account record, created by the row in the imported file, to that specific Company record.

 

Importing to a Many-to-Many Connection Field

You can also import to a many-many connection field. Make sure the file is formatted such that the multiple records to be stored in the connection field are:

  • Comma-separated or row-separated,

  • WITHOUT a space before or after each comma, and

  • Contained within a single cell

It will look like this:

First child,second child,third child

Or this:

First child

Second child

Third child

 

Notes:

  • If you're importing and setting connection values to multi-part fields, such as Name & Address fields, you'll get inconsistent results, or the values won't be set at all. We suggest you use other unique fields, such as email address or an ID field, as your display field in the connected table and map to that value in your import.
    • This can even be done temporarily until after you have completed your import and the records have been indexed.
  • If you are formatting your CSV in Excel, you do not need to add quotation marks. Excel will do this automatically.
    • You can verify if the format is correct by opening your CSV in a text editor application.