How to update SuiteCRM from Excel

The CData Excel Add-In for SuiteCRM enables you to edit and save SuiteCRM data directly from Excel. This article explains how to transfer data from Excel to SuiteCRM. This technique is useful if you want to work on SuiteCRM data in Excel and update changes, or if you have a whole spreadsheet you want to import into SuiteCRM. In this example, you will use the Accounts table; however, the same process will work for any table that can be retrieved by the CData Excel Add-In.

Establish a Connection

If you have not already done so, create a new SuiteCRM connection by clicking From SuiteCRM on the ribbon.

The User and Password properties must be set to valid SuiteCRM user credentials. Additionally, specify the URL to the SuiteCRM application, for example http://suite.crm.com.

Note that retrieving SuiteCRM metadata can be expensive. It is advised that you store the metadata locally as described in the Caching Metadata section of the data provider help documentation.

Retrieve Data from SuiteCRM

To insert data into SuiteCRM, you will first need to retrieve data from the SuiteCRM table you want to add to. This links the Excel spreadsheet to the SuiteCRM table selected: After you retrieve data, any changes you make to the data are highlighted in red.

1. Click the From SuiteCRM button on the CData ribbon. The Data Selection wizard is displayed.
2. In the Table or View menu, select the Accounts table.
3. In the Maximum Rows menu, select the number of rows you want to retrieve. If you want to insert rows, you need to retrieve only one row. The Query box will then display the SQL query that corresponds to your request.
4. In the Sheet Name box, enter the name for the sheet that will be populated. By default the add-in will create a new sheet with the name of the table.

Insert Rows to SuiteCRM

After retrieving data, you can add data from an existing spreadsheet in Excel.

1. In a cell after the last row, enter a formula referencing the corresponding cell from the other spreadsheet; for example, =MyAccountsSheetInExcel!A1.
2. After using a formula to reference the cells you want to add to SuiteCRM, select the cells that you are inserting data into and drag the formula down as far as needed. The referenced values you want to add will be displayed on the Accounts sheet.
3. Highlight the rows you want to insert and click the Update Rows button.

As each row is inserted, the Id value will appear in the Id column and the row's text will change to black, indicating that the record has been inserted.