Importing Receiving data

This import allows you to receive Purchase Order in a batch upload format.

Formatting the Data

You must create a CSV file formatted in a way that Fishbowl knows what to do with the data. This is easiest to do with a spreadsheet program. There must be a header row detailing which columns have been specified so Fishbowl knows which columns were entered.

All fields will be one of two types:

Text - A textual value. May contain any character, but if it contains a line break, comma or double quote, it must be wrapped with double quotes on both ends. If a field is wrapped, all text must be inside the double quotes. Double quotes in the text value must be doubled to import properly
Numeric - A decimal number greater than or equal to zero.

CSV Fields Used to Import Receiving Data

Column Name	Type	Description
PONum	Text (25 chars)	The purchase order number used to order the received parts. This may be the only field on the line in which case the ENTIRE PO will be received into the default receiving location. If parts on the PO track serial numbers, lots, etc, then the other columns MUST be specified. *Required*
Fulfill	Boolean	Indicates whether the line item will be fulfilled or received only.
VendorPartNum	Text (50 chars)	The part number used by the vendor to reference the received part. This is used to find the proper purchase order line item to receive against. The import will first look for a Vendor/Part association. If there is no Vendor/Part association, then it will look for a Part with this number. *Optional, but if specified, then the following columns are required.*
Qty	Numeric	The quantity received in the UOM that the part was ordered. *Required if VendorPartNum was specified.*
Location	Text	The location to receive the parts into. If this field is missing, parts will be received into their default location or the default receiving location. This column should also contain the location group prefix. Location group prefixes are the Location Group name separated from the location name by a dash (-). The import will not create new locations. (i.e. SLC-Stock 100)
Date	Text	The date that the receive occurred. (I.E. M/d/yyyy or 6/2/2025)
ShippingTrackingNumber	Text	The tracking number for the receipt item.
ShippingPackageCount	Numeric	The package count for the receipt item.
ShippingCarrier	Text	The carrier for the receipt item.
ShippingCarrierService	Text	The carrier service for the receipt item.
Tracking (See Description)	Text	The tracking information for the inventory. The name of the column is the name of the part tracking item prefixed by "Tracking-". (i.e. Tracking-Lot Number) *If the part is not tracked by a particular tracking type the field can be left empty.*

Parts Tracking Serial Numbers

If a part tracks serial numbers, then each serial number must be on its own line immediately following its parent line above. If a part tracks more than one type of serial number then you will need a serial number header immediately following its parent line. This header contains the names of the tracking items separated by commas. Then each serial number set must be on its own line following the header.

Creating a CSV file

In order to import your data, you must first export it to a comma separated values (CSV) text file. All major spreadsheet programs can export data in this format. If you do not know how to export your data to a CSV file, please refer to the documentation of your spreadsheet program.

When exporting to CSV format, make sure to verify the following:

The data is formatted properly (see the first section)
The file must contain column names in the first row, using the column names in the table above.
Commas are used to separate fields
Text values are surrounded by double quotes