FireAI
Start for free

FireAI ERP

Bulk import with linked fields

How Excel templates work for every collection — Data sheet dropdowns, lookup sheets for linked records, and uploading without pasting UUIDs.

Updated August 17, 2026

Any collection that has linked fields (foreign keys) uses the same Excel bulk-import pattern. You do not need a special template per table — downloading Template always matches the current schema.

When this applies

If the collection links to another collection (for example stock → product, price list item → product, or product categories → parent category), downloading Template gives an Excel (.xlsx) file with dropdowns.

You can still upload CSV for these collections: put the linked record’s display name (or id) in the linked column. Excel is easier when you want dropdowns.

Collections with no linked fields still use a simple CSV or Excel template with plain columns.

What’s in the template

  1. Data sheet — one column per importable field. Linked columns show a dropdown of existing records (by name / code, not UUID).
  2. Extra sheets — one sheet per linked collection (for example Products). Column A is the label you pick; the Id column is hidden and used by the system.

If two fields link to the same collection, they share one lookup sheet.

How to import

  1. Open the collection list and choose Bulk upload / Import.
  2. Click Template and download the file (Excel when the collection has linked or dropdown fields).
  3. On the Data sheet, fill rows. For linked columns, pick from the dropdown (or in CSV, type the same label / id).
  4. Save and upload the .xlsx or .csv file.
  5. Review the list. If some rows were skipped, the message will say which labels were not found — re-download the template if masters changed.

Export

On any collection list, use Export and choose CSV or Excel (.xlsx). Selected rows export only those records; otherwise the export includes up to the server row limit.

Create masters first

Dropdowns only list records that already exist. Add products, warehouses, customers, and other masters before bulk-importing rows that link to them. For nested product categories, create parent categories first (or leave parent blank for top-level).

New collections and new links

When you add a collection or a new linked field in Settings → Collections, the next template download includes the new dropdown and sheet automatically. No separate setup step.