Learning Resources: FAQs I

Importing

Should I choose "Merge and Overwrite", "Merge and Underwrite", or "Create new entry"?

Great question. Here are your choices along with the possible reasons you might choose each of them.

1. Choose ‘create new entry’ if you want to make a NEW record for each incoming contact. Warning: this setting may create duplicate records which can lead to people getting duplicates of the same email and/or postcard, which looks pretty sloppy. So be sure you have a good reason for choosing ‘create new entry’.

2. Choose 'Merge and overwrite' to merge databases by email address and use the new, imported data to overwrite your existing database wherever it finds conflicts. That is, if OfficeAutopilot finds an email match, but the phone numbers for those records DON’T match, it will use the new, imported phone number and OVERWRITE the one that exists in your database.

3. Choose 'Merge and underwrite' to do the opposite. Where data conflicts, OfficeAutopilot will keep the data in your database and discard what’s in the file you’re importing.

"If I upload a new contact already exists in the system, will the system reject it?"

When you import a list of contacts into your account, you will have three choices on how you wish the system to handle the duplicates. The choices are, "merge and overwrite, "merge and underwrite", or "create a duplicate".

It is important to note that our system matches duplicates from the email address. If the contact does not have an email address, a new contact record will be added (regardless of their name etc).

Merge and overwrite will overwrite the contact record with the data being imported. Merge and underwrite will add any new information being imported (for example, tags). The third option "create a duplicate", will add another contact record for that contact.

"I imported contacts and I want to delete them, how can I do this without selecting each individually?"

To delete the whole GROUP of contacts, go to your contacts pane. The next step is to click the + More Actions link. Then change the field 'With' to 'All In Group'. Then you may click delete contacts and everyone in the selected group will be removed from your list. If you don't have a predetermined group set for being deleted you can always make one and set the criteria of the group to be date added (if all of the contacts are ruined from a date specific import) or say the data was corrupt in a few different imports and loads of people showed up without emails, in this case you could set a group criteria for email equals "blank" and it would remove all contacts without an email address listed. Keep in mind the group formation for removal will be on a case by case basis depending on the defect of your information.

I want to import a list of contacts, but some of them have already opted out. How can I handle the import so these people don't start getting emailed with info they've already requested to stop receiving.

As long as these contacts opted out through our system (and have their bulk email status switched to "No"), there's nothing to worry about. The import will not affect this field, so they will not start receiving email again.

I did an import and I just have a bunch of blank contacts. What gives?

More often than not, this is caused by not mapping the fields after import. After uploading your list and agreeing to the terms, you'll want to make sure you match up the fields. This is what tells the system which column in your imported list coincides with which field in the system.

For help on importing, you can view our walkthrough here:
http://wiki.sendpepper.com/w/page/16309347/Importing-your-Contacts

Integrations

"I LOVE this other piece of software! Will you integrate with it? Pretty please?"

Well, maybe. Depends on if we think others will benefit from the integration. Shoot us an email to support@officeAutopilot.com and let us know what the software is, what it does, and any other pertinent information and we'll let you know!

"What if I'd rather do everything included in your Quick Start myself? Can I?"

By all means! Many of our customers are ambitious and savvy enough that this stuff is child's-play for them. If that's you, then go ahead!

iPhone App

"I don't see the person's phone number (or other desired data) here in my iPhone App. Why not?"

The iPhone App and Google Gadget can only show information to you that you've already collected from the person either via SmartForm or input through a list import. If it's not in the person's contact record in your SendPepper/OfficeAutopilot account, it wont' show up in your Google Gadget or iPhone app.

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