Changing a Budget via Export/Import

Modified on Thu, 16 May 2024 at 04:01 PM

Whenever a global change is needed on a worksheet or budget, it may be easier to export, update, and then import the worksheet or budget. Some examples include:

  • Changing dimensions on worksheets
  • Adjusting all account lines across all worksheets
  • Adding a line dimension to multiple worksheets/lines
  • Adding/removing worksheets

These methods can only be used if you do not have any SPWs that affect the worksheet(s) for which you are making changes. If you have SPWs of any kind that affect the worksheet, please contact Martus Support for assistance.


Method 1 – One Worksheet at a Time 

  1. Open a worksheet.
  2. Click Worksheet Actions > Export Worksheet (xlsx).


  3. Open the file from your computer.
  4. Make changes as needed and save the file. If you change dimensions for any rows, use the Id columns to the right - these are the columns Martus will use on import.


  5. Go to the worksheet and click Worksheet Actions > Import Worksheet (xlsx).


  6. Choose the file from your computer and click Import.
  7. Wait for Martus to finish importing.
  8. Review changes in Planner > Summary reports.

If sheet dimensions were changed, you may need to delete the old worksheet from the budget in Planner > Planner Setup > Worksheet Management.


Method 2 – All Affected Worksheets within a Budget

This method allows you to update or change all affected lines regardless of the worksheet.

  1. Go to Planner > Planner Setup.
  2. From the Budget Management tab, select the budget by checking the box next to the name.
  3. Click Export from the action menu.
  4. Open the downloaded file in Excel.
  5. Navigate to the "Budget" sheet.
  6.  Modify all of the desired worksheet lines. If you change dimensions for any rows, use the Id columns to the right - these are the columns Martus will use on import.


  7. Delete the sheet named "Setup".
  8. Save the updated Excel file.
  9. Go to Planner > Planner Setup > Import tab.
  10. Change the year if needed and click Load.


  11. To create a new budget:
    1. Choose Create New Budget.
    2. Specify a Budget Name.
    3. Choose the file from your computer.
    4. Click Import.
    5. Go to your home screen to await the completion of the import.
    6. Go back to Planner > Planner Setup and set the new budget as the Planner and/or Dashboard default as desired.
  12. To import into an existing budget:
    1. Choose Import into Existing Budget.
    2. Select the Destination Budget from the dropdown.
    3. Choose the file from your computer.
    4. Click Import.
    5. Go to your home screen to await the completion of the import.
    6. Go back to Planner > Planner Setup > Worksheet Management tab.
    7. Delete any unneeded worksheets using the action menu.


Notes on Importing

  • Martus will add new and adjust existing, but won't remove unmatched lines when importing.
    • New lines: Martus will import all new lines from the file.
    • Adjusted lines: Martus will update all values for the line to the values found in the file.
    • Removed lines: Martus will do nothing - the lines that were in the budget originally remain unchanged.
  • To remove lines and/or worksheets from a budget, you may want to utilize the export/import method and the option to import into a new budget. The new budget only contains the lines indicated in your file.
  • The tab with the budget in Excel must be called "Budget". The file names do not matter.
  • There can be no duplicate combinations of dimensions and accounts. (We recommend testing this by concatenating these fields in a separate column and checking for duplicates.) If there are duplicates, the last one processed is the only one that will be imported into the budget ("last one wins").
  • There can be no Excel formulas in any field that is to be imported. Copy and paste as values if needed.

Anatomy of the Import File


  • Dimension & Account Friendly names - Yellow:
    These are for reference only. You can fill them in, leave them blank, or even delete those columns entirely.
  • Monthly Amounts - Green:
    The total per month for that line.
  • Notes - Purple:
    The Notes columns (1-12) apply to each corresponding month in your fiscal year. There's a 150-character maximum on each note.
  • ID Columns - Blue:
    • The columns for the Dimension IDs and account numbers are shown to the right of the Notes columns.
    • The headings for these columns are essential and must be in the format of the dimension name plus Id (for example, DepartmentId). Only optional dimensions may be left blank. 
    • Utilize the code ID, not the name, and ensure there are no leading or trailing spaces.







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