Change a property field type currently being used & Bulk update that contacts field via file import

[Star_SCX]

Hi All. 

I just want to explore the best option for editing a property field type which is being used at the moment. Would you guys say I'm on the right track or if you have any other suggestions please?

I'm on the Marketing Hub Starter package so I don't have any automation functions. My level of knowledge is really basic, I'm relatively new to HubSpot/CRM system in general. 

Scenario:

I have 1900 contacts on the system and their Industry fields have been populated. The Industry field is currently a single-line field type but I need to change it to a picklist. This can't be done at the moment because the property is being used in those contacts, and also 1 app.

So I need to, 1. change the field type to a picklist  2. make sure the changes are updated in my contacts.

Should I do this?

1. Export all my contacts so I have all of them as they are and their ID numbers.

2. Delete the data currently in the Industry field of all the contacts.

3. Once Industry property is cleared so it's no longer in use, I should be able to edit the property field type - change from a single-line to a picklist of my choice.

4. Import the contacts data back into HubSpot to bulk update the contacts Industry fields again.

• Do I just upload the file with columns for first name, last name, contact ID and Industry, if I only want to bulk update the Industry field? 
• At the point of import, select the option 'Update existing contacts using the "ContactID" exported from HubSpot?

I'm worried about losing data or messing up what's already there! 😅

Thanks so much in advance!

Star

[FHolleman]

I'm worried about deleting all information and it being gone forever.  Can you lend insight to insure this doesnt happen?

[kvlschaefer]

Hi @FHolleman,

Thanks for reaching out!

I would recommend following @Aleeson's tip on exporting everything as backup, and following his suggested steps on how to solve this.

@Star_SCX - Do you have any insight you would like to share with @FHolleman about your experience changing the property field type?

Thank you!

Best,

Kristen

[kvlschaefer]

Hi @FHolleman,

Thanks for reaching out!

I would recommend following @Aleeson's tip on exporting everything as backup, and following his suggested steps on how to solve this.

@Star_SCX - Do you have any insight you would like to share with @FHolleman about your experience changing the property field type?

Thank you!

Best,

Kristen

[Aleeson · Accepted solution]

Sounds like you've given this a lot of thought! 

It might be a bit less risky to create a new Property for Industry to use, rather than bulk-deleting anything! Then you can go back and remove the old Industry property if necessary, or just use the new property to make sure the import works as you'd hoped.

That said, for step 4: As long as you include either the ContactID or the email address of the contact in question, along with just the Industry data, the import will update just the Industry property- It won't remove anything else. You don't even need first name/last name, just the ContactID or email will work.

Everything in HubSpot centres around the email property, but as you're aware we can select the ContactID property to match imported info to a contact as well.

Also, before you do any of this, might be a good idea to export everything you have as a backup!

[Star_SCX]

Hi Aleeson. Just a quick note to say that I just managed to try this out this week and it worked perfectly! Thanks again! 🙂 

[Star_SCX]

Hi Aleeson

Thanks so much for replying so quickly. Good shout on creating a new property then deleting the old one, and exporting everything as a backup. 

I will give that a go! 🙂

Star