ANS-0995 · CSV IMPORT & DATA MIGRATION
Why is External ID Not Available for Mapping During NetSuite CSV Import?
Special characters in CSV file headers can prevent NetSuite from recognizing External ID and other reference types for field mapping.
Short answer
The inability to map External ID or other reference types during a NetSuite CSV import is typically caused by special characters in your CSV file headers. To resolve this, review your CSV file for headers containing characters like '#' or '&', and update them by removing these special characters. For instance, change 'SG&A' to 'SGA' to ensure proper field recognition.
Scenario
When performing a CSV import in NetSuite, users may encounter a situation where specific fields cannot be mapped. This issue can manifest as the absence of expected reference types, such as Names, Internal ID, or External ID, during the mapping process. Consequently, the import cannot proceed as intended, preventing data from being correctly associated with NetSuite records.
Solution
The root cause of this mapping limitation is the presence of special characters within the column headers of the CSV import file. To resolve this, follow these steps:
Review the CSV import file to identify any column headers containing the following special characters: # &
Update the identified header values by removing these special characters. For example, if a header is named
SG&A, it should be updated toSGA.
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