Using Data Upload Templates in Practifi

Some of the functionality described in this article is available as part of our Pinot Meunier release and will not be available if your Practifi instance is not upgraded to this release. 

Overview

Growing firms often encounter large caches of data that can benefit their members, necessitating moving it into Practifi. The following data upload templates have been developed to enable administrators to efficiently add, update, upsert, or delete records in bulk. This guide provides an overview of the available templates and instructions for preparing your data for import.

• Available Data Upload Templates
• How to Prepare Your Data for Import
  • Download the Relevant Template
  • Format Available Data
  • Load Your Data into Practifi
• Upload Considerations
• Data Load Troubleshooting

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Available Data Upload Templates

Practifi administrators can use data upload templates to efficiently import existing data into the platform, whether by exploring available fields, reviewing record examples, or performing a bulk load. To meet these varying needs, Practifi has developed three template types: Object Field Descriptions, Sample Object Data, and Data Upload Templates. These templates are meant to be used in the following ways:
 

• The Object Field Descriptions files include recommended and required fields, organized by each Field Name, its API Name, data type, field description, whether it's required, and an example of the data you might find within it.
• The Sample Object Data files provide additional examples of complete records within each object for teams to use as helpful comparisons to their data.
• Data Upload Templates are standardized templates that administrators should use as a starting point when building their upload or upsert files for a data load.

Download the appropriate template for your needs:
 

Object	Object Field Descriptions	Sample Object Data	Data Upload Template
Asset / Liability	Download	Download	Download
Contacts	Download	Download	Download
Deals	Download	Download	Download
Entity	Download	Download	Download
Services	Download	Download	Download

If you want to use Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) data or reporting in your Practifi instance, you'll need to upload it to the objects that have RMD fields added, unless a custodial integration provides it. 

To do so, please reference the following templates:
 

Objects with RMD-Related Fields	Sample Object Data	Data Upload Template
Asset Liability	Download	Download
Contacts	Download	Download
Entity	Download	Download

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How to Prepare Your Data for Import

Download the Relevant Template

1. Select the appropriate Data Upload Template link for the object you want to modify.
2. Save the downloadable CSV file to your computer.

Format Available Data

1. Open the template in Excel or a CSV editor.
2. Fill in all relevant and required fields. Required fields are those marked with an asterisk in the template.
3. Ensure data formats match the expected values (e.g., dates in MM/DD/YYYY format).
4. For updates or upserts, include the record's ID or external ID.
5. Save the updated template as a new file so the original remains available if changes are needed later.

Load Data into Practifi

For detailed instructions on importing prepared data, consult our Using Salesforce Inspector Reloaded in Practifi article.

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Upload Considerations

When updating or upserting data in Practifi, there are several implications to consider:

• Administrators should back up their organization's data before performing any bulk updates or mass record deletions. Teams can learn more about data backup in our Understanding and Using Data Export article.
• Always use a Batch ID so records can be easily removed if a correction is needed after the load. For more information on creating and managing batches, please refer to our Understanding and Using Batches article.
• Test with a small batch of records first to confirm the template works as expected in your instance before completing a larger update.
• Data upserts (which perform either an update or an insert) should be used when it is unclear whether a record exists.
• Review your data for duplicate records before completing a load to avoid unintentionally adding new entries.
• As of the Pinot Meunier release, the Set As Created Date and Set As Created By fields on multiple objects can be automatically updated by API calls if permitted by trigger settings. To learn more about this setting and how to enable it, please see our Understanding Triggers article.

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Data Load Troubleshooting

When attempting to load data, users may occasionally encounter error messages if the load fails. The following are some common scenarios and appropriate follow-up actions:

• If you are receiving "Invalid Format" errors: 
  • Verify that the entered dates, picklist values, and IDs match the expected formats required for the fields they are referencing.
• If you are receiving "Missing Required Field" errors:
  • Check that all mandatory columns have been populated with appropriate data.
• If targeted records aren't updating:
  • Confirm that you included the correct ID or external ID for those records.

Please note: If you encounter any additional errors or issues with the provided data templates, contact Practifi Support.