What Is Opportunity CSV Import?
Opportunity CSV import lets you create new opportunities or update existing ones in bulk using a spreadsheet file. This is helpful when you're migrating deal data from another CRM, adding opportunities to contacts that already exist in your account, or updating fields like pipeline, stage, status, or value across many records at once.
Every opportunity must be linked to a contact. If your contacts are already in Captivation Hub, you can do an Opportunities-only import using their Contact IDs. If you also need to bring in new contacts, use a Contacts + Opportunities import instead.
Before You Import
A little prep goes a long way. Before uploading your file:
- Save your file in CSV format and keep it under 30 MB.
- Create any pipelines and stages you plan to use — the importer won't create them for you.
- Create any Opportunity custom fields you want to map.
- Make sure every Opportunities-only row has a valid Contact ID.
- Include the Opportunity ID for any rows where you're updating an existing record.
- Test with a small sample file first — there's no one-click undo once an import runs.
Opportunities-Only vs. Contacts + Opportunities
Choose your import type based on whether your contacts already exist in Captivation Hub.
| Import Type | Use When |
|---|---|
| Opportunities Only | Your contacts already exist in Captivation Hub and you have their Contact IDs. |
| Contacts + Opportunities | You need to create or import the contacts and their opportunities at the same time. |
Required and Optional Fields
| Field | Requirement | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Contact ID | Required for Opportunities-only import | Links the opportunity to an existing contact. |
| Opportunity Name | Required | Sets the opportunity name. |
| Pipeline | Required | Places the opportunity in an existing pipeline. |
| Pipeline Stage | Recommended when needed | Assigns the opportunity to a specific stage. |
| Opportunity ID | Required when updating | Identifies which existing opportunity to update. |
| Opportunity Value | Optional | Sets the deal value. |
| Status | Optional | Sets Open, Won, Lost, or Abandoned. |
| Custom Opportunity Fields | Optional | Imports additional opportunity-specific data. |
Supported status values are Open, Won, Lost, and Abandoned. If your source system uses different labels, update those values in your CSV before importing.
Step 1 — Start the Import
Go to Opportunities in your account and click the Import option.
Select your import type: Opportunities, or Contacts + Opportunities if you're bringing in both.
Step 2 — Upload the CSV File
Select or drag your CSV file into the importer. Confirm that it uploads without errors and review any warnings before continuing.
Step 3 — Choose Import Behavior
Select whether you're creating new records or updating existing ones. If you're updating, make sure your CSV includes the correct Opportunity ID for each row — without it, the importer may create a duplicate instead of updating the intended record.
Step 4 — Map CSV Columns to Fields
Tell Captivation Hub what each column in your file represents. Map the required fields first (Contact ID, Opportunity Name, Pipeline), then map optional fields like Pipeline Stage, Opportunity Value, Status, and any custom fields. If a column shouldn't be imported, leave it unmapped and confirm that setting when prompted.
Step 5 — Configure Empty-Value Behavior
When updating existing records, decide what happens when a CSV cell is blank. Enable Don't update Empty Values if you want blank cells to leave existing Captivation Hub values unchanged rather than overwriting them.
Step 6 — Review and Start
Before running the import, verify your mapped fields, confirm required fields are included, check any warnings, and make sure unwanted columns are excluded. Then start the import.
Reviewing Import Results
After the import runs, go to Bulk Actions, find the import, and click Show Stats to see which records succeeded and which failed. If there are failures, open the Error tab, download the error log, correct the affected rows in your CSV, and re-import just those records.
Common Issues and Fixes
Opportunity not linked to the right contact: Check that the Contact ID column is mapped correctly and the IDs are valid.
New opportunity created instead of updating existing one: The Opportunity ID was missing or incorrect. Each update row needs the exact Opportunity ID for the record you want to change.
Pipeline not accepted: The pipeline must already exist. The importer won't create pipelines from your CSV data.
Opportunity landed in the wrong stage: Confirm the stage exists in the selected pipeline.
Blank values overwrote existing data: Enable "Don't update Empty Values" on your next update import.
Custom field missing during mapping: Make sure the field was created for the Opportunity object (not the Contact object) before importing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import opportunities without importing contacts?
Yes, as long as the contacts already exist in Captivation Hub. Each row needs a valid Contact ID.
How do I update an existing opportunity instead of creating a new one?
Include the Opportunity ID in your CSV and map it during the import. Without it, the system may create a duplicate record.
Do pipelines and stages need to exist before importing?
Yes. Create them in Captivation Hub before running the import — the CSV importer won't build them automatically.
Can I undo an import?
There's no one-click rollback. Always test with a small sample first and review your mappings carefully before processing a large dataset.
Where do I find failed rows after an import?
Go to Bulk Actions, find the import, click Show Stats, and check the Error tab. Download the error log to see exactly which rows failed and why.
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.