QB - 04.02.04 Importing Your Own List of Contacts

Adding one or two contacts into the Masters using, as documented previously, is fine, however if you have to add dozens or hundreds of contacts, it would take hours. We are happy to tell you, Quick Bid supports importing Contacts which makes building your Contact list easy and efficient. 

You import Contacts using a specially-formatted CSV file (Comma Separated Value). Format the CSV file following the instructions below - please follow these instructions carefully to ensure your CSV file is corrected formatted. We've included a template file named "Contacts-Import.csv", located in the "OCS Documents\Quick Bid" folder, as an example. (If you've deleted that file by accident, you can download a copy here: https://downloads.oncenter.com/Downloads/QB/Templates/Contacts-Import.csv.)

First, define the fields to be imported - if you are not going to use a field, you do not have to define it. The only required field is "Company" - if you are adding 'sub-contacts' and a "Company" doesn't exist with that name, then one will be added. We recommend specifying a "Contact Type" for all Contacts because this designation affects program Lookups.

There are 22 contact fields required for import:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Title
• Department
• Work Phone
• Home Phone
• Mobile Phone
• Pager
• Home Fax
• E-mail Address
• Company (this is a required field; if the Company doesn't exist already, it will be added)
• Business Street
• Business Street 2
• Business City
• Business State
• Business Postal Code
• Business Country
• Business Phone
• Business Fax
• Web Page
• Notes
• Contact Type (if this Contact Type doesn't exist in the database, it will be added during the import process)

Create the Import File 

In Notepad

Using Notepad or any other text/data editor, create a CSV file.

The first row in the text file defines the fields to be imported - type each field name separated by a comma (not all 22 fields must be included, but be very careful with spelling and comma placement - we recommend you use the template file).

Each subsequent row includes the actual contact data that will be imported.

Notepad example:

• Each field (in the first row) is separated by a comma
• Each data row includes an entry for each field (even if the entry is blank), followed by a comma

Once all data is entered in this format, save the file (as a CSV if it is not already saved).

You are now ready to import your contacts list (csv) into Quick Bid.

In Excel

In Row 1 (yellow highlighted below) enter in each of the Field names to be imported.

Move to Row 2 (green=data), enter data for each Field  (your Excel file will not be color-coded).

Leave cells blank for which there is no data to import.

Move to Row 3, 4, and so on, entering in the data fields.

Notice on the second data set there is no information available for "Department" - that is OK. For each Field (column) defined in Row 1 there must be an entry in the data section, even if that entry is blank.

Click "Save As" and select "Comma Delimited" or "CSV" from the File Type drop down.

Confirm that you want to save the Excel file as a CSV file, if necessary.

You are now ready to import your contacts list (csv) into Quick Bid.

Import the CSV File

Open Quick Bid and click Master > Contacts - the dialog opens.

Click the Import button.

Click OK on the notification dialog box.

Browse to the location where you saved the CSV file and select it.

Once the import is complete, a confirmation displays.

Company Contacts (Contacts of a Contact)

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