Updating Contact Records via Data Source

This article was developed to describe the steps involved in updating contact records via a data source. The article is organized into the following sections:

• Overview
• Prepare the source data
• Create a new Data Source

• Configure the Field Mappings

   

Overview

This article assumes that you already know how to create Data Sources. Data Sources are used to create contacts from a CSV file or a Web Posting. They can also be used to update or add data to contacts that are already in your CRM. This article will explain how to do the latter.

Prepare the Source Data

The updaterecord field is the key to success. Without this field, any data uploaded to the Data Source will create a new contact instead of updating the existing contact.

The updaterecord field tells the system that it will not be creating a new contact but will be updating a contact already in the system.

The numerical digits inside the Customer ID field (found via the Contacts tab and the client dashboard of the contact you are updating) will then be placed as the values in the updaterecord key/value pair.

Samples of Source Data

CSV File: Format the CSV file so that Cell 1A contains updaterecord and column A contains the Customer IDs of the contacts that will be updated. See the example record shown below.

HTTP POST: Add the updaterecord field to the posting string. Example posting string:

https://login.forthcrm.com/post/513f454dcb746e5f2174afbe61cf759fc151696e/?updaterecord=XXXXXX&firstname=john&lastname=smith&homephone=6305556789&cellphone=6305551234&email=johns@example.com

Create a new Data Source

See our Help Center article on creating data sources: Setting up Data Sources: Web Forms and CSV Imports.

Configure the Field Mappings

As shown by the red arrow in the image below, the updaterecord field should NOT be mapped on the Edit Data Source page. Only the contact data needs to be mapped. Your field mappings should look like the image below:

Once the fields are mapped...

1. If Using Import Data Source: Click Start Merge.
2. If Using Web Form Data Source: Click Save Data Source. The Data Source is now ready to accept HTTP Postings and update contact records.

Tip: WebHooks can post updated contact data into another account's Data Source.