How to Import Outlook Contacts to Micrsoft Dynamics CRM

Importing your contacts from Outlook into Dynamics CRM is a relatively painless and straight-forward process.

1. Export your contact list from Outlook to a CSV file (File->Import and Export)



2. Select Export to a File




3. Select Comma Separated Values (Windows)




4. Select the Contacts folder




5. Open up the file in Excel and look for any strange data - for example I deleted the birthday column because all of the birthdays in my contact list were 0/00/00 which gave me an error.


6. In CRM go to Workplace->Imports


7. Select Import from Files in section 1 or New from the data grid toolbar


8. Click the Browse button to select the file you just created and hit next





9. If you want to review the delimiters you can or just hit next


10. Next, you have the option to map the data automatically or use an existing map


11. Select Contacts from the drop down and hit next


12. A warning icon appears next to fields that need your attention. You may select ignore, create new field or select an existing field from the drop down




13. Before you import you get a form that will allow you to set the owner of the contacts, prompt you for an optional data map name and ask you if you want to allow duplicates





14. Hitting submit will submit your job to run


15. Refreshing the grid will enable you to see the progress of the job


16. Once the Status Reason says complete you can see the number of successes, errors and the total count


17. If you had no errors, Navigate to Contacts, you may need to select the active contacts view and there are your imported contacts