How to Bulk Import Custom Object Records in Sparkforge

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

Open the Custom Object, click Import, upload a CSV, choose Create / Update / Create + Update, pick a dedupe field if needed, map fields, and start. Track progress and errors under Bulk Actions > Custom Objects.

Custom Object Bulk Import uploads a CSV to create new Custom Object records, update existing ones, or do both in a single run. It includes unique-field dedupe controls and a centralized Bulk Actions page for progress, errors, and operational control.

Why bulk import Custom Objects

Faster onboarding — load large datasets in one pass instead of record-by-record.
Flexible modes — Create, Update, or Create + Update.
Dedupe — unique fields prevent duplicates and conflicts.
Operational control — pause, resume, or cancel from Bulk Actions.
Visibility — import stats, row-level errors, warnings, and resolution guidance.

Run a Custom Object import

Open Custom Objects in the sub-account and select the object you want to import into.
Click Import in the top right.
Select the object to import.
Choose an import mode: Create, Update, or Create & Update.
If multiple unique fields are mapped, pick the dedupe unique field when prompted.
Map fields:
- Map Primary and required fields first.
- Map additional fields, including Owner and Followers if needed.
Enable Update empty values only if blank cells should overwrite existing data (Primary and required fields are always protected).
Click Start Import.
Track progress under Bulk Actions > Custom Objects — pause, resume, cancel, or open detailed stats and row-level results.

Import modes at a glance

Create — brand-new datasets only. No updates to existing rows.
Update — modify existing records only. Rows without a matching Record ID or unique field are skipped.
Create & Update — match on Record ID or unique field updates the row; no match creates a new one.

Update empty values

The toggle decides whether blank CSV cells overwrite existing values during an update:

Off (recommended for most updates) — blank cells leave existing values alone.
On — blank cells clear existing values, except on Primary and required fields.

Dedupe and unique fields

If multiple unique fields are mapped, pick one (or Record ID) as the dedupe field.
Sparkforge still checks the other unique fields for conflicts.
Rows that violate a non-selected unique field fail with row-level errors so the rest of the import keeps running.

Monitor and recover

Open the import from Bulk Actions > Custom Objects to:

View Processing, Completed, or Failed status.
Pause, Resume, or Cancel a running import.
Open the Stats modal for Errors and Warnings tabs with row-level How to Resolve guidance.
Download error logs for offline review.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use Create vs Update vs Create + Update?

Use Create for brand-new datasets, Update to modify existing records only, and Create + Update when the CSV mixes new and existing rows.

Why am I asked to select a dedupe field?

When multiple unique fields are mapped, Sparkforge needs to know which one to match on for dedupe during the import.

What does strict conflict handling across unique fields mean?

If a row would assign a unique value already used on another record, that row is flagged with errors or warnings so you can fix it without breaking the rest of the import.

What does Update empty values do?

It lets blank CSV cells overwrite existing values during update imports. Primary and required fields are excluded from empty-value updates.

Can I pause an import and resume it later?

Yes. Imports can be paused and resumed from Bulk Actions > Custom Objects.

What happens if I cancel an import?

The import stops processing new rows. Rows already applied stay applied — cancellation does not roll those back.

Where do I see which rows failed?

Open the import in Bulk Actions and use the Stats modal Errors and Warnings tabs. Each row includes a How to Resolve message.

Can I import multiple Custom Objects in one CSV?

Not yet. Multi-object import is currently disabled and shows Coming soon.