The Budget Import lets us import our external budget data as NetSuite budget records. The interface and process for budget imports vary from those for other record-type imports.
- A simplified version of the Import Assistant is used for budget imports, with two pages to complete instead of five. This Assistant is available from Transactions > Financial > Set Up Budgets > Import instead of the Setup menu.
- NetSuite provides a CSV budget template file that we download and populate with our data before the import.
- After we populate a file with our budget data and save it, we select this file in the Assistant. The Assistant automatically maps fields in our budget file to NetSuite budget fields and lets us view these mappings, and change them if necessary. Then click Run to import budget data directly into the database.
We can export our NetSuite budget data into an external application, make changes, and then reimport the changed data. To export NetSuite budget data, create a budget search at Transactions > Financial > Set Up Budgets > Search, then click Export for the search.
We need the Set Up Budgets permissions to import budget data. We do not need the Import CSV File permission.
Note:
Account field values in budget import CSV files can be names, internal IDs, or external IDs, but cannot include account numbers, even if the Use Account Numbers preference is enabled. When using names, values for subaccounts should be hierarchical, with the format parent account name: child account name.
Budget Template File
The budget template file is available for download at Transactions > Financial > Set Up Budgets > Import when we click the BUDGETS template in the Import Assistant.
The budget template file includes every field as columns so that every row of data can store values for fields.
Budget Template File Tips
Review the following tips for populating a budget CSV file from the template:
- The year entered on the budget must match the name of the year at Setup > Accounting > Manage Accounting Periods.
- Note that the CSV file field mapped to the required Account field should contain account names, internal IDs, or external IDs, but not account numbers.
- When using names, be sure to only use the name that appears in the Name field on the Account record. If we are entering a line item for a subaccount, the Account field must include the parent account name and subaccount name separated by a colon, for example, Checking: Purchases. Use this format for the Account field even if the Use Account Numbers preference is enabled.
- If we use the Multiple Budgets feature, Category is a required field. We can create new categories at Setup > Accounting > Accounting Lists > New, by clicking Budget Category and entering a budget category name.
- Important
- If the Budget Category field is not mapped during the import, its value defaults to the first budget category on the list. This list is ordered alphabetically.
- In OneWorld accounts, each budget category is classified as global or local to support subsidiary-level budgeting in local currencies. We do not have to modify our budget template file to include this global/local classification because it is associated automatically with the imported budget category.