You can import the data for certain import types from QuickBooks 2002 and later (US version).

1. Open the Import Data screen.
2. Note the active company. If you want to change it, click in the header and select the appropriate company.
3. For each import type you want to import, click in the Company field and browse to the QuickBooks company that contains the data you want to import.
4. Select the QuickBooks company and click OK.
5. Repeat steps 3 - 5 for each import type you want to import.
6. Click Get External Data.
   Note:

   • If an import type already has external data associated with it, Viewpoint Estimating doesn't retrieve any new data for that import type. To retrieve external data again, click Clear to clear the data for an import type.
   • If this is the first time you are importing from this QuickBooks company or if your QuickBooks permissions have been changed, you may receive a message about a missing certificate. If so, you must prepare QuickBooks for the import.
     1. In response to the "Do you want to allow this application to read and modify this company file?" prompt, select Yes, always; allow access even if QuickBooks is not running.
     2. In the Login as field, click and select a QuickBooks user with administrative privileges.
     3. Click Continue.
     4. Click Done.
   When you get external data, the application does the following:

   • Retrieves the external data for the specified import types. Any fields with null values are populated with values from the default file for the import type.
   • Validates the data.
   • Checks the header data for duplicate names.
   • Truncates any fields in the imported data that are longer the Viewpoint Estimating fields.
   • Converts date fields to the Viewpoint Estimating date format (MM/DD/YYYY).
   • Determines the number of valid records and invalid records.
   • Creates a raw data field for each field in the external data. Raw data fields maintain a record of the original external data.

   Viewpoint Estimating retrieves and processes the QuickBooks data. This can take a few minutes for each import type.

7. Review the records on the tab for each import type as described in the Import Data Screen Field Reference topic.
8. Edit the data to address invalid records.
   You can edit the data manually or use the data manipulation functions to transform the data in an entire column.

   You can use the following data manipulation functions:

   • Replace Field - You can replace the text in a column.
   • Conditional Replace Field - You can replace the text in a column based on the logical test.
   • Paste - You can paste a specified value or column in a column. This is useful if you want to restore the original external data to a column (by pasting a raw data column to a changed column).
   • Sequential Numbering - You can insert sequential numbers in a column based on a specified starting value and increment.
   • Concatenate - You can concatenate (join) up to five columns and values in a single column.
   • Formulas - Advanced users can use a robust set of tools in Viewpoint Estimating to create formulas that you can run against the data in a column.
     Tip: As you edit the data, you can save your edits without importing. Click Save at any time to save the edited data, which will be recalled automatically when you open the Import Data screen again. Once you have saved external data, you can click Clear at any time to clear the save external data for an import type.
9. On the General tab, click the Ready for Import checkbox for one or more import types that contain valid records.
10. Click Import to import valid records for all import types that are specified as ready.
11. To view display only fields after importing, select the Show Display-Only Fields checkbox on the appropriate import tab.
12. To view the raw data from the external file for any field, select the Show Raw Data checkbox on the appropriate import tab.