{"id":70901,"date":"2025-11-13T09:50:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T08:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/help\/non-knowledgebase\/uncategorized\/how-do-i-prepare-my-cost-center-file-for-import-into-churchtools\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T13:51:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T12:51:40","password":"","slug":"how-to-prepare-my-cost-center-file-for-import-into-churchtools","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/help\/churchtools-modules\/import-and-export-finances-en\/how-to-prepare-my-cost-center-file-for-import-into-churchtools\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prepare my cost center file for import into ChurchTools?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To obtain an account setup file in a format that ChurchTools can read, you can download an <em>import template<\/em> from ChurchTools Finances, which you can use as a basis for importing your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Download the Cost Center Import Template<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In ChurchTools, navigate to the <em>Finances module<\/em>. Open <em>Cost Centers<\/em> (2) in <em>Master Data<\/em> (1). From the <em>context menu<\/em> (3), select <em>Import Cost Centers from CSV File<\/em> (4).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers-from-CSV-file.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1950\" height=\"884\" src=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers-from-CSV-file.png\" alt=\"Screenshot Finances Master data Import cost centers from CSV-file\" class=\"wp-image-70886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers-from-CSV-file.png 1950w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers-from-CSV-file-300x136.png 300w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers-from-CSV-file-1024x464.png 1024w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers-from-CSV-file-768x348.png 768w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers-from-CSV-file-1536x696.png 1536w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers-from-CSV-file-360x163.png 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1950px) 100vw, 1950px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here, you can download an <em>import template<\/em> (5) that is tailored to the general master data that has already been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers_download-Import-Template.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"564\" height=\"458\" src=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers_download-Import-Template.png\" alt=\"Screenshot Finances Master data Import cost centers download Import Template\" class=\"wp-image-73714\" style=\"width:363px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers_download-Import-Template.png 564w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers_download-Import-Template-300x244.png 300w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Finances_Master-data_Import-cost-centers_download-Import-Template-360x292.png 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Customize the Cost Center Import Template<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Copy all the data from your export file, paste it into the cost center import template, and customize it to suit your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2.1 Optional: Enter a budget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the &#8221; <em>Budget in \u20ac<\/em> &#8221; field, enter the budget for the respective cost center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group ct-box ct-box-blue has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1ccdadb1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-radius:8px;border-left-color:#3e70ce;border-left-width:0.5rem;background-color:#f3f5f7;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0.5rem;margin-right:0.5rem;margin-bottom:0rem;margin-left:0.5rem\"><strong>Note<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0rem;margin-right:0.5rem;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-left:0.5rem\">You can still enter budgets even after importing them. To learn how, check out our guide, &#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/help\/churchtools-module\/stammdaten\/30-wie-lege-ich-budgets-an\/\" data-type=\"docs\" data-id=\"7174\">How to add budgets?&#8221;<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2.2 Optional: Enter the IDs of associated groups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this step, you enter the IDs of the groups you want to link to the cost center. Of course, you can also enter the IDs after the import is complete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group ct-box ct-box-blue has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1ccdadb1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-radius:8px;border-left-color:#22c55e;border-left-width:0.5rem;background-color:#dcfce7;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0.5rem;margin-right:0.5rem;margin-bottom:0rem;margin-left:0.5rem\"><strong>Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0rem;margin-right:0.5rem;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-left:0.5rem\">You can find the group ID at the bottom left of your group&#8217;s menu.  <br><br><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"418\" height=\"1130\" class=\"wp-image-73716\" style=\"width: 200px\" src=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Groups_Group-ID.png\" alt=\"Screenshot Groups Group ID\" srcset=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Groups_Group-ID.png 418w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Groups_Group-ID-111x300.png 111w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Groups_Group-ID-379x1024.png 379w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Groups_Group-ID-189x512.png 189w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Groups_Group-ID-18x50.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 418px) 100vw, 418px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Save the import file<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Save your customized cost center file by selecting <em>File<\/em> &gt; <em>Save As&#8230;<\/em> in <em>CSV UTF-8 (comma-separated values)<\/em> format as a CSV file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"659\" height=\"284\" src=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/image-1.png\" alt=\"Screenshot: Saving the Cost Center File\" class=\"wp-image-11344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/image-1.png 659w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/image-1-300x129.png 300w, https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/image-1-360x155.png 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 659px) 100vw, 659px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ll show you how to import your prepared file into ChurchTools in the article &#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/help\/churchtools-modules\/import-and-export-finances-en\/how-to-import-cost-centers-from-a-file\/\" id=\"38768\">How to import cost centers from a file?&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group ct-artikel-zum-weiterlesen has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-79a8db7e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;background-color:#f9fafb;margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:24px;padding-top:32px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:32px;padding-left:24px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Read more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/help\/churchtools-modules\/import-and-export-finances-en\/how-to-import-cost-centers-from-a-file\/\" id=\"38768\">How to import cost centers from a file?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To obtain an account setup file in a format that ChurchTools can read, you can download an import template from ChurchTools Finances, which you can use as a basis for importing your data. 1. Download the Cost Center Import Template In ChurchTools, navigate to the Finances module. Open Cost Centers (2) in Master Data (1). [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"doc_category":[670],"doc_tag":[],"knowledge_base":[224],"class_list":["post-70901","docs","type-docs","status-publish","hentry","doc_category-import-and-export-finances-en","knowledge_base-churchtools-modules"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"acf":[],"year_month":"2026-07","word_count":225,"total_views":"35","reactions":{"happy":"0","normal":"0","sad":"0"},"author_info":{"name":"Victoria Weidemann","author_nicename":"vweidemann","author_url":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/author\/vweidemann\/"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"Import and export","term_url":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/help\/non-knowledgebase\/import-and-export-finances-en\/"}],"doc_tag_info":[],"knowledge_base_info":[{"term_name":"Modules","term_url":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/help\/churchtools-modules\/","term_slug":"churchtools-modules"}],"knowledge_base_slug":["churchtools-modules"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/70901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70901"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/70901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73718,"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/70901\/revisions\/73718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_category?post=70901"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_tag?post=70901"},{"taxonomy":"knowledge_base","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchtools.academy\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge_base?post=70901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}