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This page details how to create an Excel xlsx spreadsheet to import into Wise Owl Legal

Each xlsx spreadsheet can contain multiple worksheets (the tabs at the bottom of Excel). You can import multiple types of records in the same spreadsheet by including them in different worksheets. You can even split records of the same type across multiple worksheets. Each record type is imported in the order listed below, then in the order of worksheets.

Record type import order:

  • Users
  • Contacts
  • Matters

Excel spreadsheets can be uploaded to an Appliance (generally, files are limited to ~10MB) or the Appliance can download a file from another web server (no size limitation).

Each worksheet has a unique key column to identify each record. This must never be duplicated or your import will fail. This includes records which may already be in the Wise Owl Appliance. The Wise Owl database automatically assigns each record a primary key as it imports them, but this is not directly visible to you.

All required columns must be present in a spreadsheet. Any optional columns can be omitted.

Some fields allow multiple values. These can be entered as comma separated (eg: First, Second, Third, and so on) or on separate rows in Excel. If using separate rows, you should duplicate non-repeating data on each row (in particular, the unique key, so each row can be identified). A single record must exist in adjacent rows (that is, you cannot have a row for user 'larry.lawyer', then 'rachel.reception' and then 'larry.lawyer'. Wise Owl will interpret the second Larry Lawyer as a third record and fail because a 'larry.lawyer' is already in the database).

 

Important: Worksheets must be named correctly so the importer can recognise the record type. The default names in Excel "Sheet1" will not work; you must rename your worksheets to import.

 

TODO: Karen, can you attach some of you examples here, for reference.

Users

Worksheet must start with User eg: Users, Users_Active

Unique key name: Username

FieldType of DataRequiredMultiple ValuesRelates ToComments
UsernameText, max 128YN Unique key to identify users
AuthenticateByTextYNExternal Directories

Use Appliance Internal to store passwords on the Appliance, or an existing directory name to use an Active Directory service

If you use an External Directory, the username must match exactly and already exist in the directory

Using Appliance Internal means you must specify an InitialPassword

InitialPasswordTextMaybeN Required if AuthenticateBy is Appliance Internal
IsActiveYes / NoYN Yes, No, Y, N, True, False are all valid values
FirstNameText, max 128YN First and last names must be specified
LastNameText, max 128YN First and last names must be specified
OtherNamesText, max 128NN  
InitialsText, max 8YN Initials must be unique between all active users, as they are used to identify people in many circumstances
EmailText, max 256YN Email must be unique across all users, as it is used for automatic password recovery
PreferHtmlEmailYes / NoNN Defaults to Y if not specified
HomePhoneText, max 32MaybeN At least one phone number must be entered
OfficePhoneText, max 32MaybeN At least one phone number must be entered
MobilePhoneText, max 32MaybeN At least one phone number must be entered
LanguageLanguage codeNNLanguages

Defaults to the Appliance language (usually en-AU).  Only English dialects are supported. This affects how dates and currency symbols are displayed.

List of all language codes

TimeZoneTime zone nameNNTime Zones

Defaults to the Appliance time zone. Affects how dates and times are interpreted. Generally, this is unimportant unless you have users in different time zones. 

Time zone names are taken from Windows; you can see a list of them in your Date and Time settings in Control Panel. Note: time zone codes like AEST are not supported.

DefaultSearchItemsPerPageDesktopWhole NumberNN The number of records displayed on search pages when viewed from desktop / laptop browsers. Defaults to the Appliance Setting if not specified. Users can override this on their My Settings page.  
DefaultSearchItemsPerPageMobileWhole NumberNN The number of records displayed on search pages when viewed from mobile / tablet browsers. Defaults to the Appliance Setting if not specified. Users can override this on their My Settings page.  
LoginActivityTimeoutTimeNN Defaults to 2 hours if not specified
ShowProfilerYes / NoNN Shows the time for the Appliance to generate each page in the top right corner. Users must have the Can See Page Creation Time right for this to have any affect. 
ShowTutorialOnLoginYes / NoNN Directs the user to the tutorial page when they first login. Users can opt-out of this tutorial via their My Settings page.  
RolesRole nameNYRolesNo roles are required. However, none are assigned by default so a user without any roles will not even be able to log into Wise Owl Legal.
DenyRightsRight nameNYRightsRights listed here are denied to the user, even if they are granted via a role.
GrantRightsRight nameNYRightsRights listed here are granted to the user, even if they are denied via a role.

 

Contacts / Clients

Worksheet must start with Contact eg: Contacts, Contacts_2010, Contacts1

Unique key name: ContactNumber

Important: contact auto-numbers are not changed when importing records. You must manually update the contact auto-number in Appliance Settings after import. 

FieldType of DataRequiredMultiple ValuesRelates ToComments
ContactNumberText, max 32YN Unique key to identify contacts and clients
IsActiveYes / NoYN Yes, No, Y, N, True, False are all valid values
IndividualOrCompanyI or CYN Determines if FirstName / LastName or CompanyName are required
FirstNameText, max 100MaybeN Required if IndividualOrCompany is I. Does not apply to company contacts.
LastNameText, max 100MaybeN Required if IndividualOrCompany is I. Does not apply to company contacts. This is always capitalised when displayed.
OtherNamesText, max 100NN Does not apply to company contacts.
CompanyNameText, max 200MaybeN Required if IndividualOrCompany is C. Does not apply to individual contacts.
TitleText, max 20NN Does not apply to company contacts.
KnownAsText, max 200NN  
DateOfBirthDateNN 

Date of Incorporation for company contacts.

ABNNumericNN Australian Business Number. Spaces are allowed between digits for formatting. 
ACNNumericNN Australian Company Number. Spaces are allowed between digits for formatting. 
TFNNumericNN Tax File Number. Spaces are allowed between digits for formatting. 
GenderMale / FemaleNN Does not apply to company contacts.
IsAustralianCitizenY / NNN Is Australian Company for company contacts
PowerOfAttorneySignedY / NNN  
CountryOfBirthCountryNN Country of Incorporation for company contacts. Can be either a 2 letter country code (eg: AU) or full country name. 
OccupationText, max 100NN Principal Business Activity for company contacts
EmployerContactNumberContactNNContactsReferences another contact's ContactNumber field.   
AlternateContactNumberContactNNContactsReferences another contact's ContactNumber field.   
AlternateContactRelationshipText, max 50NN Relationship of alternate contact to this one (eg: husband, wife, parent, secretary)
NotesTextNN Free text notes. Can contain line breaks. 
ContactTypesContact Type tagsNYContact Type 
      
Address    Addresses must be listed across multiple rows in Excel. Each of the following address fields are taken to form a single address record, attached to the contact.
AddressTypeAddress Type namesNYAddress Type

Multiple addresses can be listed, each with a different address type.

AddressStreetLine1Text, max 100NY  
AddressStreetLine2Text, max 100NY  
AddressSuburbText, max 100NY  
AddressStateProvenceText, max 20NY  
AddressPostcodeZipText, max 20NY  
AddressCountryCountryNY Can be either a 2 letter country code (eg: AU) or full country name. 
AddressFromDateDateNY  
AddressToDateDateNY  
      
Phone, Email, Web, Etc    The field names for phone numbers, email addresses, and other means of contacting people are dynamically determined based on the list in your Appliance. The following are common examples.
WorkPhoneText, max 250NN  
HomePhoneText, max 250NN  
MobilePhoneText, max 250NN  
PagerText, max 250NN  
FacsimileText, max 250NN  
WorkEmailText, max 250NN  
HomeEmailText, max 250NN  
WorkWebsiteText, max 250NN  
      
Custom Fields    Custom fields are referred to via their number, not name. As many as are present in the Appliance Settings are supported. 
Custom1As per custom field definitionNN  
Custom2As per custom field definitionNN  

Matters

Worksheet must start with Matter eg: Matters, Contacts_Archived, Matters_2012

Unique key name: MatterNumber

Important: mater auto-numbers are not changed when importing records. You must manually update the matter auto-number in Appliance Settings after import. 

FieldType of DataRequiredMultiple ValuesRelates ToComments
MatterNumberText, max 32YN Unique key to identify matters
TypeMatter Type name or codeYNMatter TypeCan refer to these via the short code or full name
JurisdictionJurisdiction nameYNJurisdiction 
StatusOpen, Closed or ArchivedYN Certain other fields will be required if Closed or Archived is entered here
OpenDateDateYN  
NameText, max 250YN This is copied to the first Re Line if the Re Line is not entered
AbbreviatedNameText, max 50NN  
ClientsClient NumbersYYContact

The first listed will be designated as Primary Client, any subsequent ones will be listed as Clients.

Use the OtherContactType and OtherContactNumber fields to list other companies or persons related to the matter.

ReLine1Text, max 250NN If not entered this will be set to the Name field
ReLine2Text, max 250NN  
ReLine3Text, max 250NN  
OtherSideRefText, max 40NN  
OtherContactTypeContact TypesNYContact TypeContact Type and Number allow additional contacts to be listed against a matter. Multiple can be entered across multiple Excel rows, but not as a CSV in the one cell.
OtherContactNumberContact NumbersNYContactDo not list additional clients here, use the Clients field instead.
ReferralSourceReferral Source nameNNReferral Source 
LimitationDateDateNN  
ClosedDateDateMaybeN Required if Status is Closed
ArchivedDateDateMaybeN Required if Status is Archived
ArchiveLocationArchive Location nameMaybeNArchive LocationRequired if Status is Archived
TrustAuthoritySentByUsernameNNUserRequired if TrustAuthoritySentDate is entered
TrustAuthoritySentDateDateNN Required if TrustAuthoritySentBy is entered
RelatedMattersMatter NumbersNYMatter 
      
Fee Earners    Note that the field names are dynamically determined based on fee earner types listed in your Appliance Settings. The following are system fee earner types, and will be present in all Wise Owl Appliances.
IntroducingLawyerUsernameNNUser 
ResponsibleLawyerUsernameNNUser 
SupervisingLawyerUsernameNNUser 
AssignedLawyerUsernameNNUser 
ParalegalUsernameNNUser 
      
ConflictCheckForUsernameYYUser 
ConflictCheckEnteredByUsernameYYUser