We recommend that you create your profile variables manually in Community before importing the data.
If your import file contains new profile variables, they will be imported as a Single Choice profile variable, which is fine if the data contains a limited number of options. However, this becomes an issue if your data contains unique values for every member (for example, addresses, account ID numbers, verbatim comments, and so on). Importing this type of profile variable will render each of these Open End values as a Single Choice option, which could result in system performance issues. In cases like these, it is best to create your profile variables as a Text, Number, or Identity profile variable in the user interface first.
Once the profile variable is created and its type is defined, you can import profile variables of the same name. The application adds the values to the system while retaining the profile variable type definition. If you have already accidentally imported a Text, Number, or Identity profile variable as a Single Choice variable, follow the steps in this article to fix the issue.
If your import file contains new profile variables, they will be imported as a Single Choice profile variable, which is fine if the data contains a limited number of options. However, this becomes an issue if your data contains unique values for every member (for example, addresses, account ID numbers, verbatim comments, and so on). Importing this type of profile variable will render each of these Open End values as a Single Choice option, which could result in system performance issues. In cases like these, it is best to create your profile variables as a Text, Number, or Identity profile variable in the user interface first.
Once the profile variable is created and its type is defined, you can import profile variables of the same name. The application adds the values to the system while retaining the profile variable type definition. If you have already accidentally imported a Text, Number, or Identity profile variable as a Single Choice variable, follow the steps in this article to fix the issue.
Example
A CSV file containing account numbers was imported and the account numbers became a Single Choice profile variable; however, the account numbers should be an Identity profile variable.Detailed Steps
- Determine if the profile variable should be a Text, Number, or Identity profile variable.
In the example above, the profile variable should be an Identity profile variable. - Create a member group for active members and use the profile variable as the filter.
- Perform an export for the member group.
- Download and open the exported CSV file.
- Delete the unneeded columns in your exported CSV except for Email and the profile variable you want to convert.
- In the CSV file, rename the profile variable.
The application only allows a profile variable name to be used once, and once created, profile variables cannot be converted from one type to another. To import and create the profile variables with the correct type, you will need to use a different name.
For example, if the profile variable was previously called "Account Number," you can change the profile variable name to "Account ID." - In the Community app, create the profile variable.
Create a profile variable called "Account ID" and set Type to Identity. - Import the CSV file.
- Optional: To avoid confusion, in Community, remove the defunct profile variable ("Account Number").
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