---
title: "Importing Data from Excel"
description: "You can import financial data from Excel files directly into Data Collection forms. After uploading a file, you map form rows and columns to Excel data interactively. The system saves your mappings so that recurring imports are faster — upload an updated file and your previous configuration is restored automatically."
source_url: https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/data-collection/collecting-data-dc/importing-data/importing-data-excel
language: en
last_updated: 2026-05-28
---
# Importing Data from MS Excel

## Overview

You can import financial data from Excel files directly into Data Collection forms. After uploading a file, you map Excel data to form rows and columns interactively. The system saves your mappings so that recurring imports are faster — upload an updated file and your previous configuration is restored automatically.

## Prerequisites

Before starting an Excel import:

- The form must have status **In Progress.**
- You must be assigned as a **Collector** for the reporting entity, or you must be an **Administrator**.
- The form must contain at least one pivot table with at least one **Numeric** or **Currency** column.

{% stepper %}
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Navigate to **Data Collection | Data collection.**
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Open the form you want to import data into.
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Click **More actions | Import Data** in the top right. The **Import Data** dialog is displayed:

'Import Data' dialog
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Select **Excel**. The **Import Data from MS Excel** dialog opens.

'Import Data from Excel' dialog

{% info-box %}
The first row of your Excel file will be used as column header.
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{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Upload your Excel file by dragging it into the upload area, or click **choose a file** to browse.

Supported formats and limits:

- File formats: .xlsx, .xls
- Maximum file size: 50 MB
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Click **Next**.
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After a successful upload, an **Imported accounts** panel appears on the right with all accounts from the uploaded file, organized by sheet. Each row and column in the form shows a **\+ Map** link.

Form detail view with an 'Imported accounts' panel on the right

## Mapping Rows and Columns

To configure the import, you link Excel accounts to form rows, and Excel columns to form columns. You must configure at least one row mapping and one column mapping before you can execute the import.

### Mapping Rows

Row mappings link a form row to one or more accounts in your Excel file. When the import runs, values from all mapped accounts are summed and written to the target row.

To map an account to a row:

{% stepper %}
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Click **\+ Map** next to a leaf-level row. The **Map Accounts** dialog opens, showing all accounts organized by sheet.

The Map Column dialog for selecting an Excel column
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Select one or more accounts to map to this row. You can select accounts from multiple sheets. Use the search field to filter by account name.
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Click **Map**. The row now shows a link icon and the mapped accounts appear as subordinate entries beneath it.

A mapped row with the linked account shown as a subordinate entry
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{% info-box %}
Only lowest-level rows can be mapped. Superordinate rows and total rows do not have a **\+ Map** link — their values are calculated automatically.

Each Excel account can only be mapped to one form row. Accounts that are already mapped to another row do not appear in the **Map Accounts** dialog.
{% /info-box %}

**Removing a mapped account**

To remove a mapped account, click the **delete icon** on the subordinate entry beneath the row. The account becomes available again for mapping to a different row.

### Mapping Columns

Column mappings link a form column to a column in your Excel file.

To map a column:

{% stepper %}
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Click **\+ Map** in a **Numeric** or **Currency** column header. The **Map Column** dialog opens, showing all columns organized by sheet.

The Map Column dialog for selecting an Excel column
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Select the Excel column that contains the values for this form column. You can use the search field to filter by column name.
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Click **Map**. The column header now shows a link icon to confirm the mapping.

A column header with a link icon after mapping
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{% info-box %}
The same Excel column can be mapped to multiple form columns. Total columns do not have a **\+ Map** link — they are calculated automatically.
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## Executing the Import

Once at least one row and one column are mapped, the **Import** button becomes available.

To start the import:

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Click **Import** in the top right.
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If the form already contains collected data, a **Confirm Import** dialog appears. Click **Confirm** to overwrite existing values, or **Cancel** to return to the mapping view.

'Confirm Import' dialog
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{% info-box %}
**Additional notes:**

- Manual editing and additional imports are disabled for all users while the import is in progress.
- After a successful import, the form is displayed in editing mode. The form now includes the imported data as well. Superordinate rows and total columns are recalculated automatically.
- Imported values cannot be automatically undone. To restore previous data or correct imported values, edit the affected cells manually after the import.
{% /info-box %}

## Recurring Imports

The next time you import data for the same form and reporting entity, the system automatically restores your previous row and column mappings. Upload the new Excel file and the mappings are applied immediately — you only need to adjust them if your file structure has changed.

If the new file is missing accounts that were previously mapped, a red warning icon is displayed on the superordinate row and the missing account name is shown with strikethrough text. The data can still be imported — missing accounts are skipped and their target rows receive no value from that account. To clean up, click the **delete icon** on the missing account entry to remove the orphaned mapping.

## Importing into Drill Down Cells

Excel import supports tables with a single level of drill down configured to the **Local Account** dimension. For these cells, the import creates individual drill down entries — one per mapped account — rather than updating the cell value directly.

{% info-box %}
Excel import is not supported for tables with:

- Two levels of drill down
- Drill down configured to a dimension other than **Local Account** (for example, **Cost Center** or **Partner**)
{% /info-box %}