CiviCRM Community Forums (archive)

Are these tables that you need to import structured in such a way that you can use the standard import function? If not, you would first need to do some manipulation with either SQL or a script?
The instructions of using the standard import can be found here : http://en.flossmanuals.net/CiviCRM/ContactsAddingAndImporting
Erik

If the import is more complicated that "simply" the contacts (eg needs to create groups, tags, contact sub types, relationships and so on), we found it easier to write a php script that uses the api and call the various functions.

bonus point, you can run it from the shell, don't timeout/load issues and you don't end up clicking 10 zillion time on the import wizard.

X+

Hi all,

I work with Jazzman - we are trying to import some data that may be more complicated than the current setup in CiviCRM - for example, gifts being split out into multiple appeals/campaigns, etc.  Our question was actually twofold:

1.  Are we able to create new tables in CiviCRM to house custom data?
2.  If so, would we then be able to import into those tables?

Thanks,
Hassab