The Excel Parser field mapping syntax defines how data from an Excel spreadsheet maps to records and fields in SmartSimple. Use these syntax patterns when configuring the Field Mappings input on an Upload - Multiple Files Storage custom field with Enable Excel Parsing toggled on.
Who: Global Administrator configuring field mappings for the Excel Parser.
Activity Field Mapping Syntax
Use this syntax to create activity records from spreadsheet rows. The mapping opens and closes with square brackets. Each set of activities is defined in curly brackets and separated by commas. Fields are mapped using the syntax "field": "namedCell" where the named cell matches a cell name defined in the Excel spreadsheet.
Example:
[{"sheet": "Sheet1", "record": "activity", "rowasrecord": "true", "type": "Budget", "status": "Draft", "startcell": "StartingSalaries", "name": "col_1", "[cf_3980270]": "Salaries", "[cf_3980271]": "col_1"}]
| Example | Description |
|---|---|
[] |
The field mapping opens and closes with square brackets. |
{}, |
Each set of activities to create is wrapped in curly brackets and separated by a comma. Inside the brackets, specify the mappings — for example: "sheet": "Sheet1". |
"field/property": "name" |
Inside the curly brackets, specify the field or property to set and the named cell from the spreadsheet. To reference a custom field, wrap the field ID in square brackets inside the quotes — for example: "[cf_1111112]": "col_1". |
"sheet": "Sheet1" |
The name of the sheet inside the Excel document. Update this value if the sheet has a different name. |
"record": "activity" |
"activity" creates child records. Leave empty for the current record, or use "peer" to create activities under the same parent record. |
"rowasrecord": "true" |
"true" instructs SmartSimple to create one activity record for each row in the spreadsheet. |
"type": "Budget" |
The activity type to create. Update this value to match the desired activity type name in your system. |
"status": "Draft" |
The status to assign to each created activity. Update this value to match the desired status in your system. |
"startcell": "StartingSalaries" |
The named starting cell in the Excel spreadsheet. The parser reads each row beginning from this cell and creates one activity per row until it encounters a blank first value. |
"name": "col_1" |
The column used as the activity name (subject standard field). The parser references this value to identify and update an existing activity on re-upload. If a user changes the name and re-uploads, the parser creates a new activity instead of updating the original. |
"[cf_3980270]": "Salaries" |
"[cf_3980270]" is the custom field ID and "Salaries" is the named cell in the spreadsheet. The value in that cell populates this custom field. |
"[cf_3980271]": "col_1" |
"[cf_3980271]" is the custom field ID. "col_1" is the column of data pulled based on the defined startcell. |
Same Record Field Mapping Syntax
Use this syntax to populate custom fields on the current record rather than creating activities. Wrap the custom field name in square brackets, add an equals sign, then enter the named cell or cell group as defined in the Excel spreadsheet. Separate multiple mappings with a semicolon.
Example:
[CustomFieldName1]=NameInExcel1;[CustomFieldName2]=NameInExcel2
| Syntax element | Description |
|---|---|
[CustomFieldName] |
The custom field name wrapped in square brackets. |
=NameInExcel |
An equals sign followed by the name assigned to the cell or cell group in the Excel spreadsheet. |
; |
A semicolon separates multiple field mappings. |
[fieldname1]=ExcelName1;[fieldname2]=ExcelName2 |
A complete example mapping two fields. |