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:

1. Prepare the source data

2. Create a new Data Source

3. Configure the Field Mappings

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.

For further assistance with creating Data Sources, please see the following articles:

Import Data Source

Web Form Data Source

1. 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 contact that already exists.

What the updaterecord field does is tell the system that it will not be creating a new contact, but instead, it will be updating a contact that already exists in the system.

The numerical digits found 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.

Examples of what your source data should look like:

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=250851185&firstname=john&lastname=smith&homephone=6305556789&cellphone=6305551234&email=johns@example.com

2. Create a new Data Source

Log in to the CRM, click the Contacts tab, and then select "Data Sources" from the Navigation Bar.

From this page, complete the "Name/Field" assignment section of the page. For the "Type" dropdown menu, you may select "Web Form" or "Import" (item 1) and then follow the instructions as shown in the middle right portion of the page (item 2).

Web Form Data Source: If you are posting updated contact info directly to your CRM from an online form or a marketing source using an HTTP Post, create a Web Form Data Source. After the Web Form Data Source is set up, make sure to post a test contact. This is needed to map the fields in step 3.

Import Data Source: If you are using a CSV file to update contacts that are already in your CRM, create an Import Data Source. Then upload the CSV file and click Save Data Source.

3. 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...

Import Data Source: Click the green Start Merge button.

Web Form Data Source: Click Save Data Source. The Data Source is now ready to accept HTTP Postings and update contact records.

Practical uses

1. WebHooks can be used to post updated contact data into another account's Data Source.

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