# skipIfKnownColumn not working in import api **URL:** \ **Category:** APIs & Integrations\ **Tags:** starter\ **Created:** [November 6, 2024, 9:35am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897 "2024-11-06T09:35:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JM20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JM20](https://community.hubspot.com/u/JM20)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2024, 9:35am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/1 "2024-11-06T09:35:18Z")
Hi! I’m using hubspot import api and there are some columns whose values should not be overwritten. It’s working using UI but not when using import API. I’ve already set “skipIfKnownColumn”: **true** in the column mapping but values still gets overwritten. Any ideas as to why? ---
**Author:** ![Jaycee\_Lewis](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/jaycee_lewis/32/61352_2.png) [@Jaycee\_Lewis](https://community.hubspot.com/u/Jaycee_Lewis)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/2 "2024-11-06T22:32:22Z")
Hi, @JM20 👋 Thanks for your question. I’d like to ask a few of our community champions for their feedback — hey @SteveHTM @Kevin-C [@Mike\_Eastwood](https://community.hubspot.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/9259) have you managed to send `“skipIfKnownColumn”: **true** ` successfully using the [**Import API**](https://developers.hubspot.com/beta-docs/guides/api/crm/imports)? I understand [**how to set this in-app**](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/import-and-export/import-objects#:~:text=Don%E2%80%99t%20overwrite%20checkbox%20in%20the%20row%20of%20the%20property.), as noted by the OP, and I found some older community posts indicating it was possible, but I’ve not been successful in finding the matching developer documentation for this action. Thank you for any and all your help! — Jaycee ---
**Author:** ![SteveHTM](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/stevehtm/32/22074_2.png) [@SteveHTM](https://community.hubspot.com/u/SteveHTM)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/3 "2024-11-06T22:53:12Z")
Yep - I confirm that I’ve been unable to find any such such documentation or community reference. It makes sense that it would exist in some form, but I can’t see it. Steve ---
**Author:** ![JM20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JM20](https://community.hubspot.com/u/JM20)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:14am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/4 "2024-11-07T06:14:55Z")
Thanks for your responses. This is actually where I saw the community post that it’s possible to use skipIfKnownColumn property : [https://community.hubspot.com/t5/APIs-Integrations/Don-t-override-existing-value-option-in-Bulk-impo…](https://community.hubspot.com/t5/APIs-Integrations/Don-t-override-existing-value-option-in-Bulk-import-CRM-data-API/m-p/452738) but no official documentation. So, is this functionality really supported? ---
**Author:** ![SteveHTM](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/stevehtm/32/22074_2.png) [@SteveHTM](https://community.hubspot.com/u/SteveHTM)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/5 "2024-11-07T15:40:20Z")
Undocumented in 2021 - and still undocumented in 2024. You have to wonder who might know the truth here… ---
**Author:** ![Jaycee\_Lewis](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/jaycee_lewis/32/61352_2.png) [@Jaycee\_Lewis](https://community.hubspot.com/u/Jaycee_Lewis)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/6 "2024-11-08T17:25:14Z")
Hey @SteveHTM That is a valid question. I’m submitting this to the team that owns these endpoints to see if we can get a confirmation on if this possible/not possible. If not possible, I’ll update the post @JM20 linked so that it stops causing confusion. I’ll update this post as soon as I hear back. — Jaycee ---
**Author:** ![Qodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/85f322/32.png) [@Qodi](https://community.hubspot.com/u/Qodi)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 8:34am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/7 "2024-11-18T08:34:34Z")
Hey [@Jaycee\_Lewis](https://community.hubspot.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/127074), I’m facing the same problem. Did you get a response from the API team? Thanks in advance, Q. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycee\_Lewis](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/jaycee_lewis/32/61352_2.png) [@Jaycee\_Lewis](https://community.hubspot.com/u/Jaycee_Lewis)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/8 "2024-11-08T18:29:50Z")
Hey, @JM20 can you DM me the import ID and portal ID for the Import where adding this to your column mapping failed, please? My internal requested it so they can take a more in-depth look. If you have an example as well @SteveHTM I can share that too. The more, the merrier 😊 Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![JM20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JM20](https://community.hubspot.com/u/JM20)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2024, 5:03am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/skipifknowncolumn-not-working-in-import-api/119897/9 "2024-11-09T05:03:54Z")
Thanks. Sent you a dm