How do I use the Import Tool in Bolster?
The Import Tool lets you import items, clients, and vendors using a Sheets-style grid. For items, it supports categories, match/update vs. create logic, and highlights what changed so you can review imports quickly and accurately.
Bolster’s Import Tool is built to help you import items, clients, and vendors using a spreadsheet-style Sheets component, so edits in the table behave like the rest of the app (including automatic recalculation for things like total cost/price).
What the Import Tool supports
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Importing items, clients, and vendors
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A Sheets-based table experience in the importer
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Automatic recalculation (ex: total cost / total price) when you edit values in the sheet
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A consistent column setup aligned with the ItemList/EntityList pattern
How importing items works (what you’ll see in the sheet)
When importing items, the import sheet is designed as a flat list (no parent/hierarchy structure).
You’ll also see columns that help you understand and control what will happen during import, including:
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Category (a choose-type column that represents the “folder” / category the item should live in)
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A matched item found indicator (so you can tell whether the import will update an existing item or create a new one)
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A selectable match control (so you can click to choose a specific item to update)
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Conditional formatting to highlight which fields changed from what was imported
Tips
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If your goal is a clean update (not duplicates), use the match indicator and selection control to ensure you’re updating the correct existing items.
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Rely on the sheet’s change highlighting to quickly review what the import will modify before finalizing.