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You can import data from other sources into inFlow, which can save you time by eliminating the need to manually retype your existing data.

Six types of data can be imported into inFlow: Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, Products, Customers, Vendors and Inventory. All types of data can be imported from the widely-used Comma Separated Value (CSV) format, and Products, Customers, and Vendors can also be imported from the IIF format used by QuickBooks.

CSV File Format

The CSV format is the most common data format and most programs should be able to export to this text-based format. For example, in Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet can be converted to a CSV file by selecting the CSV file type from the Save As dialog. The first row can optionally contain column headers describing the contents of the data in each column. This is recommended but not required.

The exact set of columns in the CSV file and their order are flexible, since you will have a chance to rearrange them when importing the data.

Importing CSV Files

To import data from CSV Files into inFlow:

1. From the inFlow menu button, select the General option.
2. Click Import Data.
3. Select the type of data.
4. Click Browse and the select the CSV file to import from.
5. If your CSV file does not have a description of the data in the first row, uncheck the option “Does your file have column headers in the first row?”
6. Click Next.
7. Match the columns in inFlow with the columns in your CSV file. If your CSV file had column headers, then they will be shown there. Most columns are optional, so they can be left blank.
8. Click Next to start the importing.

IIF File Format

The IIF format is used by QuickBooks. If you wish to import your data from QuickBooks, then the IIF format may be the easiest. Please refer to your QuickBooks documentation for how to export lists to IIF format. In some versions of QuickBooks, this may be done by going to the File menu, clicking Utilities, clicking Export and then selecting Lists to IIF Files.

Importing IIF Files

To import data from IIF Files into inFlow:

1. From the inFlow menu button, select the General option.
2. Click Import Data.
3. Select the type of data and the IIF file to import from.
4. Click Next to start the importing.

Importing Sales Orders and Purchase Orders

Importing Sales Orders and Purchase Orders is designed to help quickly enter new orders from external sources. Imported orders will have automatically generated order numbers and have their status set to Open; the order number and status cannot be imported.

Sales Orders and Purchase Orders can be imported from a variety of CSV file types, with each line containing information about the order (e.g. Customer, Billing Address) and each line within the order (e.g. quantity of product ordered). For a sample of the expected file format, you can export the Sales Order or Purchase Order data from inFlow’s Sample Database.

Each CSV file to be imported can contain information for multiple orders, with each one possibly having multiple lines. If all fields are empty, inFlow will group a line in the same order as the line above it or it will assign the same value as the line above, except for the following fields:

• Order Date (so that two items ordered by the same customer on different dates can be combined into one order)
• Any field within the Item Info section

For eBay sellers, we recommend setting the Custom Label field for your eBay products to match inFlow’s Item Name/Code.

When importing orders with new customers, products, taxing schemes, etc., the associated entities will automatically be added to inFlow.

Importing Inventory

Importing Inventory will update the quantities at the location and sublocation specified in the import file. If the location and sublocation aren’t specified when importing, the default location for that product will be assumed.

Importing Other Types of Data

When importing Customers, Vendors and Products you can either import entirely new entries or update existing entries. Customers and Vendors will be updated when an existing entry is found with the same Name. Products will be updated when an existing entry is found with the same Item Name/Code. Otherwise, a new entry will be created.