The Data Import Process
How the Data Import Works
The prospect of having to go through your whole directory and key the data into a website can be very daunting. To alleviate this, we will import your existing directory into our system for you. Follow the steps below to have your directory imported into Courtyard.
- If you haven't already, sign up for Courtyard.
- Email us your directory file in one of the formats described below.
- Wait for us to complete your import. We strive to maintain 24-hour turnaround time for data imports, but under some circumstances, this may take up to a week. We will email you when it is ready.
- Log in to view your directory and send invitations.
Excel Files
Excel (XLS or CSV) files are the prefered way for you to send us your directory, because they are the quickest for us to import. Our software is designed to accept the columns described below. If you have a different set of columns, go ahead and send us the file, and we will translate it for you.
- Last Name
- First Name
- Spouse Name
- Children's Names (comma separated)
- Address
- City
- State
- Zip Code
- Home Phone
- Email Addresses (semicolon separated, corresponding to family members in the order they appear)
- Cell Phone Numbers (same format as above)
- Birthdays (either month/day or month/day/year, same format as above)
If the spouse, or any of the children have a last name different from the family last name, please indicate it by placing "last:" followed by their last name, after their first name.
Word & Text Files
If you have your church directory in a Word document, or some other text format, please send it to us as-is, and we will convert it for you. There is no need to manually move all of the data into an Excel file, as we have special tools for doing this. Please allow several days for processing directories that are in a text-based format. We will contact you if we have any questions about the data.
<{:id=>"faq"}>Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I import from my membership management software?
- How do I send photos to import?
- How much does the data import cost?
- Is my data private?
Can I import from my membership management software?
If you have a membership management database (Shelby, PowerChurch, etc.) and would like to use Courtyard, you should be able to export a CSV file that we can import. If you need help with this, please have someone knowledgable about your membership database contact us.
How do I send photos to import?
Normally, we do not import photos because it is not very easy for you to send them to us. If you would like to mail us a CD of photos to import, you may contact us to discuss this possibility. Most churches go through and upload photos through the web interface once the basic data has been imported.
How much does the data import cost?
The data import is a free service that we offer to every Courtyard subscriber, regardless of the size or format of the import.
Is my data private?
Data privacy is very important to us. We promise not to sell your data, give it away, or use it for any dishonorable purpose. We will only contact your members if they are having a problem using the online directory.