More Ways to Fill a Collection with an Import

File > Import > Items From External Sources adds items to any NM Collector CP collection from a CSV file. This post collects ideas for where that file can come from, each with the post that explains the steps:

• Importing Items into NM Collector CP: The Basics: the blank import file, filling it in, and the import itself.

• From Paper to Collection: Importing Receipts and Other PDFs with an AI Assistant: scanned documents, and privacy with AI.

• Saving a Recipe from the Web into Your Recipes Collection: web pages and their photos.

From files you already have

A spreadsheet you keep. If your collection is already in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets, save it as CSV and import it. Your column headings won’t be NM Collector CP’s, so the import window matches what it can and you choose the rest from each line’s Goes to list. Columns with no field can go into a new field (Add a new field…) or into a notes field (Put columns not matched into), so nothing is lost. Click Save Matching… and the next export from the same spreadsheet is matched for you. The Basics covers the matching window.

NM Gun Collector Software or NM Collector JE. NM Collector CP comes with ready-made matchings for the CSV exports of both programs. Select Firearms, import the export file, and every column and setting is filled in for you; the window says which program the file came from. NM Collector JE’s picture folders are attached too. The user manual’s section Moving from NM Gun Collector Software or NM Collector JE lists what to check afterwards.

Another collection program. Most collection programs can export to CSV. Import the export, match the columns once, and save the matching with the program’s name. If the file isn’t recognised next time, Copy Headings on the import window copies just its heading row, none of your data, so you can send it to support.

Photos you’ve taken. Copy the photos from your phone or camera into one folder. Make a blank import file in that folder and fill in one row per item, with the photo file names in the Picture file(s) column, separated by ; when an item has several: IMG_1041.jpg;IMG_1042.jpg. The photos are attached in that order. The Basics shows how to fill in the file in a spreadsheet.

From paper, with an AI assistant

Each of these follows From Paper to Collection: scan, attach, ask for one row per item with a rule for each column, then import. Cover anything private before you scan.

An appraisal or insurance schedule. Into Home and Legacy Inventory, Art and Antiques, Firearms or any collection with value fields. In Home and Legacy Inventory, keep Desc > Appraised By, Desc > Date Appraised and Desc > Appraised Value, with rules such as the appraiser’s name, the appraisal date as MM/DD/YYYY and the appraised value, a number with no currency sign. If the appraisal has a photo of each piece, ask the AI for them as picture files.

An old typed or handwritten inventory list. One row per line of the list. Tell the AI to leave a value empty when it can’t read it, and check those items first.

A family cookbook page. Into Recipes. Use the recipe request from Saving a Recipe from the Web, with “Read the attached recipe” in place of the web address. If the page has a picture of the dish, ask for it as a picture file, or crop it from the scan yourself.

A warranty card or manual cover. Into Home and Legacy Inventory, with ID > Brand, ID > Model, ID > Serial Number and Desc > Warranty Expires.

From the web, with an AI assistant

Each of these follows Saving a Recipe from the Web: give the AI the page’s address and a rule for each column, and save any photo yourself with your browser’s Save image as. NM Collector CP doesn’t download pictures.

A dealer’s or auction listing. Into Coins, Stamps, Watches and Clocks, Sports Cards and Memorabilia or any collection: the description into a notes field, the price and date into the Rec tab if you bought it, and the listing’s photo saved beside the CSV.

A manufacturer’s product page. For something you own: brand, model and specifications into the Desc tab, and the page’s address into a notes field so you can find it again.

One thing every import has in common

Whatever the source, the import shows a preview before it adds anything, and Undo This Import takes the whole import back while the report is open. Try a small file first, check the items, and undo if anything needs fixing.