Importing Data
The /import
endpoint allows you to update, create, and delete data using a JSON format.
NOTE: This endpoint requires your API Token to have write permissions enabled.
REQUEST
In the control panel, Data Imports stop after validation so you can preview the changes and manually run (or not run) the import. The API is different.
When you import data with the API, the changes will be automatically applied (assuming there are no validation errors).
You can use the dryRun
option if you wish to only validate the changes.
Like the rest of the API, you'll make a POST
request with JSON listing the changes to be made
along with some options such as failure notifications, etc.
POST /import Host: https://api.firm.app Content-Type: application/json { "apiKey": "YOUR_API_KEY_GOES_HERE", "apiSecret": "YOUR_API_SECRET_GOES_HERE", "apiVersion": "1", "endpointId": "import", "dryRun": false, "failureNotificationEmails": [ "[email protected]" ], "successNotificationEmails": [], "filename": "owners-20240908.json", "recordSets": [ { "schema": "client", "lookup": "email", "records": [ { "name": "John Doe", "email": "[email protected]" }, { "name": "Jane Doe", "email": "[email protected]" } ] } ] }
If you wish to use SFTP instead of the API, please contact our support team and we'll get you set up. Likewise, if you prefer a CSV format for the API then we can also help get that set up.
REQUEST OPTIONS
These options go in the root request object as demonstrated above.
Field | Type | Description | Required |
---|---|---|---|
dryRun | boolean |
Defaults to false . Set to true to skip the "save" step. All other actions will be performed (such as notifications).
| false |
wait | boolean |
Defaults to false .
Allows you to receive the result of the import in this API call instead of
using the /importStatus endpoint.
Learn More | false |
successNotificationEmails | string[] | An array of email addresses which will be sent an alert if the import is successful. | false |
failureNotificationEmails | string[] | An array of email addresses which will be sent an alert if the import fails for any reason. | false |
filename | string | The name of this import. Optional. Shown in the control panel as though it were the filename. It is helpful to include info on what is being loaded and date information. Extension is optional and meaningless. | false |
recordSets | IRecordSet[] | Each record set is a json object containing options and records. See more below. |
RECORD SETS
A data import can load multiple types of records at the same time - for example, clients and list
items can both be loaded in the same update. Each of these types should be in their own
recordSet
json object.
Field | Type | Description | Required |
---|---|---|---|
schema | string | Schema tells the system what type of data you're working on. This field is not case or whitespace sensitive. See all the available schemas within your control panel. Some schemas are available to all organization such as client, professional, list, etc. | true |
lookup | string |
Like the spreadsheet version of data imports, the system will "lookup" each record using
the field you provide. This lookup is neither case nor whitespace sensitive. If that record is not found, then a record will be created.
The id field is a common option. That means the system will lookup the user
by it's database id, then update the other fields accordingly. However (1) you probably don't
know the database id and (2) this makes it impossible to create new records.
So you might use email as the lookup field. The system will search for someone
with the given email address and update their other fields. If the user is not found, a profile
would then be created.
Learn More | true |
records | Record[] | Each record is a JSON object that includes your lookup field along with any other fields you're wanting to change. Look at the schema docs to see exactly what fields are available for the schema you choose. See the example below. | true |
This example does two things. First, it finds the person via their email "[email protected]" and updates his Cell Phone number. Second, it finds the State titled "Texas" and updates the code to "TEX".
{ "apiKey": "...", "recordSets": [ { "schema": "Client", "lookup": "email", "records": [ { "email": "[email protected]", "cellPhone": "555 555-1234" } ] }, { "schema": "ListItem.States", "lookup": "title", "records": [ { "title": "Texas", "code": "TEX" } ] } ] }
RESPONSE
This endpoint does not wait for the import to complete as it may take
several minutes. Instead, this endpoint returns an importId
which you may
use with the /importStatus
endpoint to check the status and results.
The response will be a JSON object which has the same
format as other API endpoints. This means
it will always include the fields ok
(boolean), meta
(object), and an
optional error
object. If the endpoint was able to at least create a data import
validation record then a importId
will also be included.
Field | Type | Description | Required |
---|---|---|---|
ok | boolean | true means the update was successful. false means it failed for any reason. | |
error | object | An error object including a message , code , and status (HTTP status code).For example: {"message":"Validation failed","code":"invalid_request","status":400} | |
importId | string | The unique id of the data import which can be viewed in the control panel or queried via API. If the import fails early enough in the process, it is possible that this value is null and an error will be returned. |
SAMPLE RESPONSE
{ "ok": false, "importId": "dltn8flp0qtjkmuhghnod", "error": { "code": "bad_request", "message": "The data import was valid. Record #2 contained the error...", "status": 400 }, "meta": { "requestId": "v9uumk6y1j2l4tn8flp0qtjkmuhghnod", "duration": 25, "rateLimitRemaining": 97, "rateLimitLimit": 100 } }
NOTE You may use the wait
option to force this request
to wait for the import to complete. Not recommended. If you use this option, the API
may self-redirect several times and the end response will be the same as the
/importStatus
endpoint.