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To start enjoying the benefits of AroFlo, you need to get your clients and suppliers into the system.

You can do this yourself, quickly and easily, using AroFlo's Getting Started Assistant, Import Assistant or bulk import features. Alternatively you can also send the file to us.

Simply login to AroFlo and step through our imports training module or follow the instructions below.

Please be aware of our recommended data limits. If you have over 30,000 clients, please contact our Customer Service team.

Export clients and suppliers from your system

The first step is to export your clients and suppliers, so they can be imported into AroFlo.

If you would like to manually export, clean up and then import data from your accounting package, you can use the following tabs to assist with the export instructions:

       Select the application with your clients and suppliers

Export data from Xero

Click here to see the Xero support page for instructions.

To export customer contacts from Xero, refer to the Xero instructions above. Please note the steps below.

  1. Sign into Xero.
  2. Click Contacts > Customers.
  3. Ensure the Customers tab is selected and click Export. A file called 'Contacts.csv' is downloaded.
  4. Rename the file to Customers.csv.

  5. Repeat this process for suppliers, but in Step 2, select Contacts > Suppliers.

  6. If you have any contractors, you can export those too, by selecting Contacts > Contractors.

Identify your contacts as 'Client' or 'Supplier'

If you have exported all of your contacts to one file, you will need to add a column called 'Client/Supplier' and use it to identify each contact as either a Client or a Supplier. This will ensure that we import your contacts correctly into AroFlo; if no distinction is made, all your contacts will be imported as Clients.

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Export data from MYOB Account Right

Click here to see the MYOB support page for full instructions.

Be sure to also:

  • Audit your data to make sure it's up to date before proceeding. Tips on cleaning your data up before or after your export can be found in our Getting Started with AroFlo guide.

  • export both 'customer cards' and 'supplier cards'. The file names should be CUST.TXT and SUPPLIERS.TXT respectively.

  • select the following formatting options: separate data using Tabs, and select Include field headers in file.

  • When MYOB asks which fields to export, click Add All.

Format data

The TXT file type that MYOB gives you by default will need to be formatted into usable, delimited data and saved as a CSV file for upload into AroFlo.

Here's an article which will help you.

If you have data that you don't want to import (e.g. if you've used the address field to record notes about a client), please contact Customer Service.

Looking for MYOB Essentials?

MYOB Essentials does not allow exporting of contacts. Please contact Customer Service for assistance.

Export data from Reckon Accounts and Reckon Hosted

To export all customer contacts from Reckon Accounts or Reckon Hosted, follow these steps:

1. In the top menu, click Reports > Customers & Receivables > Customer Contact List.

2. Click Modify Report.

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3. Select ALL options.

A quick way to select all options is to hold the down arrow and the space bar on your keyboard until all unchecked items are checked.

4. Click OK.

5. Click Hide Header > Export.

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6. If you have Microsoft Excel installed, click a new Excel workbook. If you don't have Excel, click a comma separated values (.csv) file.

7. Click Export. Excel, or a text editor, opens and displays the report.

8. Save the file in a location that you will remember.

Repeat this process to export your suppliers list, but in Step 1, select Suppliers & Payables.

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Export data from QuickBooks Online

Click here to see the QuickBooks support page for instructions.


Export data from another source

If you need to export client and supplier data from another source, export your data as a .CSV or .XLS file from that application.

Use our templates

You can use our templates to prepare your data for uploading via AroFlo's bulk import tool.

If your data is complex, use our import templates and send it to us.

We recommend that you only include active clients and suppliers. This will ensure users have current client and supplier information from the start.

The client and supplier fields listed below can be imported into AroFlo.

  • Any headings in your file do not have to match the field name we have in AroFlo. (E.g. Your file may have 'given name' and AroFlo has 'first name')
  • If a field you require is not shown, you can add custom fields in AroFlo before starting your import.
AroFlo comes with a pre-built Training Client and Training Supplier so you can see a completed client or supplier card for reference.

Field

Definition

Client / Supplier Name

Company/Business name. *This is a required field

Primary Contact First Name

First name of your contact person at that business. *This is a required field

Primary Contact Last Name

Last name of your contact person at that business. *This is a required field

ABN

Client's ABN

Client Note

A generic message which appears on the client card e.g. 'Ensure invoices are sent to accounts'

Client Short Name

Short name for client (max. 6 characters)

Email

Primary contact person's email address

Fax

Client's primary fax number

Mobile Phone

Primary contact person's mobile phone number

Parent Client

Name of the Parent Client (if applicable) n.b. this client will be added as a Child Client

Phone

Primary contact person's phone number

Terms Note

Information relating to client's trading terms

Transaction Terms

Transaction terms for this client as per Site Admin (e.g. 30 Days)

Import values

Check how AroFlo formats this data by going to Create > Client. Check the 'Terms' drop-down menu to see the options available.

Website

Client's primary website

City

Client's location suburb

Company Address

Client's location street address (No. and street)

Company Location Name

Client's location name (e.g. Level 8 Building 1)

Country

Client's location country

Postcode

Client's location postcode

State

Client's location state

GPS - Latitude

GPS Coordinates - Latitude

GPS - Longitude

GPS Coordinates - Longitude

Is Individual?

A checkbox to specify if your client is an individual (e.g. domestic work for a home owner)

Import values

The Individual field can have the values '1', 'yes', 'y', 't', 'true', 'on', 'checked', 'filled', or 'individual'.

Mailing Address

Client's mailing street address (No. and street or PO Box)

Mailing City

Client's mailing suburb

Mailing Country

Client's mailing country

Mailing Location Name

Client's mailing location name (e.g. Level 8 Building 1)

Mailing Postcode

Client's mailing postcode

Mailing State

Client's mailing state


Prepare your data

Once you have exported a .CSV or .XLS file:

  1. Remove any duplicate or obsolete records, and any blank columns or rows within the data.
  2. Check that your data has the following mandatory fields, each in its own column:
    1. Client Name (this is a Company name)
    2. Primary Contact First Name
    3. Primary Contact Last Name

  3. Review the format of any Transaction Terms in your file to make sure they match how AroFlo describes them. For example, use '30 Days' not '30', 'thirty' or another format. You can check on how AroFlo formats this data by going to Create > Client. Check the 'Terms' dropdown menu to see the options available.

    You can create your own Transaction Terms in AroFlo before importing your data. Just go to Site Administration > Settings, and search on Transaction Terms.

Will you need extra fields? (Custom Fields)

If you have data that doesn't fit into the fields we provide, you can add custom fields in AroFlo, before starting your import. For example, you may have data like 'Customer Type' (VIP/Gold/Silver) or an internal reference number. If required, please also consider this additional information .

Do you have clients with multiple work sites or suppliers with multiple branches?

AroFlo can store multiple locations (such as work sites or branches) for a single client or supplier. You can also have multiple contacts for a single client or supplier.

This information can be included in your export files; however, you must ensure the client or supplier is referenced against each location or contact.

If you have any questions or require assistance with preparing your data, please contact our Customer Service Team.

Using Import Assistant

Follow the steps below to use the Import Assistant in order to import client and supplier contacts directly from your linked accounting package or through a CSV or XLS file.

To begin, click Accounts > Clients or Accounts > Suppliers, then click the bulk import button.

  1. Click the name of your accounting package and then click Get Client/Suppliers List. If you haven't yet linked your accounting package, you will be prompted to do so.
  2. Check the list of contacts that AroFlo will show you as a preview from your accounting package.
  3. If you're happy to continue, click Import Clients/Suppliers.
  4. Click Complete.

Upload your file

Follow the steps below to upload your file to AroFlo if you're using an accounting package not supported by Import Assistant.

  1. If you're uploading:
    1. clients, navigate to Accounts > Clients.
    2. suppliers, go to Accounts > Suppliers.
  2. Click (bulk import) at the top right.
  3. Click Upload File and then Next. 
  4. Click Upload File.

  5. In the Bulk Data Import Window , select a file to upload, or drag and drop a file onto the window. As soon as you've made your selection or dropped a file onto the window, the upload begins.

Map the columns

Next, you will need to match the columns in your file to the fields available in AroFlo. On this window we can use an existing mapping template, or start a new template.

If your file came from Xero or Quickbooks, you can use our preset mapping templates. Otherwise anyone can start a new template. Use the tabs below to learn more.

       Select the application used to export your file.

Mapping data from Xero

If your .CSV file came from Xero, click Use Template on the Xero - Default Template.

To review the mapping between an existing mapping template and the file you've uploaded, click the (expand) icon. The pre-set mapping will display. You can change these if you need to by clicking Use Template and following the instructions in the 'Other Applications' tab.

Mapping data from QuickBooks Online

If your .CSV file came from QuickBooks Online, click Use Template on the Quickbooks - Default Template.

Please check the .CSV or .XLS file that was uploaded. QuickBooks is known to insert a blank column between each column that has data. If this has occurred please remove all the blank columns in your file and upload the file once more.

To review the mapping between an existing mapping template and the file you've uploaded, click the (expand) icon. The pre-set mapping will display. You can change these if you need to by clicking Use Template and following the instructions in the 'Other Applications' tab.

Mapping data using a new template

Click Start A New Template.

For each column, click the down arrow and select the AroFlo field name that most closely matches the column found in your spreadsheet. In the example shown, we're telling AroFlo that Column 4 contains the 'Postcode' and column 5 contains the 'Country'.

Data appearing under the dark grey column headers will be imported.

  • To switch a dark grey column header off, click the arrow beside the field and select -- not mapped --. You can do this for any field other than the mandatory fields (marked with an asterisk).
  • To switch a light grey column header on, click the arrow beside the field and select the most suitable mapping category.

If you plan to upload the file format to another business unit, you can save the current mapping to use again. Tick the Save this mapping as a template box at the bottom of the window and enter a name for the template.

If you found columns in your file which don't match the fields we provide, you can always stop the process and add custom fields in AroFlo. See the previous section 'Prepare your data' to learn more.

Notes about mapping custom fields

  • If you're using custom fields but don't include them in your upload, or don't map the fields, the custom fields will still be added to your entries but with blank values.
  • Column mapping for custom fields cannot be saved using the 'Save this mapping as a template' option. You can still save and use mapping templates but the custom fields will need to be mapped individually each time you use the bulk upload feature.

Import your data

Now that you've mapped your data, it's ready to be imported.

  1. Click Import.

  2. Click Yes on the prompt, confirming you want to import the file. The import process begins and can take a few moments.

The import process cannot be undone once you've clicked Import. If you need to reverse your changes after a bulk import, please contact our Customer Service team for assistance. A charge for this service may be incurred.

View import results

Once your data has been imported, the results window appears.

ResultDescription
InsertedThe number of new items inserted into AroFlo
Issues

The number of items marked with an error and not imported. You can download a copy of the entries that contained an error. Refer to Bulk Data Imports Troubleshooting for help with the most common types of issues.

After closing the results window, you may need to refresh your browser to view the Imported data in AroFlo.

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