Forum Discussion

IshanBansal's avatar
IshanBansal
Qrew Member
5 years ago

Key fields for integration

Hi All,

We are validating an integration for QB with another live system. There would be two-way data sync between both the systems. I would like to know how to configure the key fields which would allow new records to be created in QB as well as imported from external system.

Let's assume the two tables as Projects and Tasks. I can think of two options to configure the key fields:

1) Use Record ID's in both the tables as key fields
2) Use Project ID and Task ID as key fields

For the first option, while importing the data from external system on daily basis, how would the task records relate to the corresponding project. Whereas for the second option, while creating new records in QB, how can we default the values as those can't be entered by user.

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Ishan
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Integration
  • EvanMartinez's avatar
    EvanMartinez
    Quickbase Staff
    5 years ago
    Hi Ishan,

    For your integration what method are you using for the import? Are you using an API call to ImportFromCSV or Pipelines or another method? Typically if you make the Project ID and Task ID fields your key fields and you go to import if those fields are blank or contains a value that doesn't have a record upon an import then Quick Base will instead generate a new record. Then if it matches an existing record anything you import will be overwritten.

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    Evan Martinez
    Community Marketing Manager
    Quick Base
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    • IshanBansal's avatar
      IshanBansal
      Qrew Member
      5 years ago

      Hi Evan,

      We are using ImportFromCSV for importing the data. We have a dedicated background process to sync the data between Quickbase and third party system.

      Yes, I have tried using the Project and Tasks ID's as the key fields and that makes importing data easier for us. However, the issue is while creating new data in QB, these values are mandatory and we can't expect the users to enter these.

      Similarly, if we use the Record IDs as the key fields, it makes data entry easier, but the import part gets tricky considering the reference fields.



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      Ishan
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      • AustinK's avatar
        AustinK
        Qrew Commander
        5 years ago
        If you are doing this via ImportFromCSV then can you not use a merge field? Leave your key field as Record ID if that helps users but when you need to import use a special merge field. This field can either be one field you know is unique or if you need multiple merge fields you can create your own through formula. What you can do is make a formula that is basically "[Field 1] + [Field 2] + [Field 3]" with the fields being things that would make the record always unique. Things that often work well are Customer Name, Phone Number, Website, etc. Mash the right ones together and it can be unique.