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Data Import

Import Sacrament Information

To use this process, you must first import your family data and member data.

Before you import sacrament information, make sure your file contains a value that connects the sacrament information to the member. This is the value you selected during the Member Import process for the Member Key field.

How this process works: Once you identify the .csv file, you will match the values in that file with your PDS Office program fields. There are a few required fields, but other than that, you only have to enter information for the data you want to import into your program. No data is imported until you click Begin Import on the final tab. Your selections are automatically saved on each tab, so you can come back to this process at another time if needed.

You can use the Import Sacrament Information process to import existing sacrament data from one or more .csv files into your PDS Office program.

  1. On the File menu in your PDS program, click Import Data > Import Sacrament Information.
  2. The backup dialog box displays if you haven't performed a daily backup.
    CAUTION: This process alters data. We recommend backing up your data before proceeding.
  3. Read the information about this process. If you understand and want to proceed, select the checkbox and click I Agree.
  4. The Add Sacramental Date Info dialog box displays. On the File Information tab, click Browse to locate the .csv file. After you select a file and click Open, your data displays.
    Note: We strongly recommend that you include field names/headers so it's easier to select the corresponding value from the drop-down lists on other tabs.
  5. On the Keys/Birth Info tab, select the appropriate values from the drop-down lists. For more information about fields on these tabs, refer to the related topic "Sacrament Import Field Information".
    Note: If you have existing information in PDS and want to update or override that information with the data in your .csv file, select Advanced Options and adjust the settings on the Key/Env/ID Number and Keywords/Remarks tabs.
  6. Each Sac tab represents a different sacrament. On each tab, select a sacrament and its appropriate values.
  7. On the final tab, before you import your data, click Pre-Import Data Check. This creates a file called "PreImportSacImportReport.txt" in the program's data folder.
  8. Scroll through the items you're going to import to see if you need to make any adjustments.
  9. When you're ready to import the data into your PDS Office program, click Begin Import.
  10. Once the import is complete, a summary displays. This creates a file named "SacImportReport.txt" in the program's data folder.
  11. When you're done, click Finish.

You can also import sacrament information for non-members or members who no longer attend using the Import Sacramental Register Information process.

Sacrament Import Field Information

Keys/Birth Info

Use this Key from Import File
This value connects the sacrament information to the student. For Where is the Import Key in PDS?, select an option to match this key to the corresponding value in your program:
  • Student ID Number—Match sacraments to student records using the PDS Student ID Number.
  • Student Key—Match sacraments to student records using the value you selected as the Student Key.
  • Student Unique Identifier—Match sacraments to student records using the unique, internal number Student Unique ID assigned to each student by the program. If you select this option, you must use an export report with the Student Unique ID field as your import file.
Default Area Code
Enter a default area code for any imported records that don't contain the area code information.
Birth Information
Select Overwrite if already present if you're updating the existing sacramental records in your PDS Office program. Any existing data is removed.
Sacrament Information
If you select to overwrite sacrament information if it is already present in your PDS Office program, any existing data is removed.

Sac tabs

On each Sac tab, select a sacrament and enter information about it.

Sacrament
The items in this drop-down list are from your Sacrament Date Names keyword list. To add or edit keywords, on the File menu, click Keywords > Sacrament Date Names.
Prof. of Faith, Verified, and Cert. on File
For these fields, only Yes/No/True/False values are recognized. The Prof. of Faith field only displays if you select Baptism as the sacrament.
Date/Date of Prof
Only dates formatted as MM/DD/YYYY are recognized. The Date of Prof field only displays if you select Baptism as the sacrament.
Extra Info
This value represents the sacramental name. For Baptism, this is the baptismal name, for Confirmation, this is the confirmation name, and for Marriage, this is the spouse's name.
Church Office
Formation Office

Last updated: March 3, 2026

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