Direct File Imports - Milemarker

What is Direct File Imports?

Direct File Imports allows you to upload structured data files (like CSV or Excel files) directly into Milemarker's Data Lake. Once uploaded, your data is automatically parsed, validated, and made available for use in dashboards, reports, and workflows.

This feature is perfect for importing data that doesn't come through automated integrations—such as custom reports, supplemental data sources, or one-time data migrations.

How to Access Direct File Imports

1 Log in to your Milemarker account
2 Navigate to Direct File Imports from the main menu
3 You'll see a list of your existing imports, or you can create a new one

Understanding Import Types

When creating a Direct File Import, you'll choose an Import Type that determines how subsequent file uploads are handled:

APPEND Add to Existing Data

Each upload adds (appends) new rows to the data already in the database. Use this when you want to accumulate data over time, like adding new transactions or records.

REPLACE Replace All Data

Each upload removes all previous data and replaces it with the new file's contents. Use this when your file represents a complete snapshot that should overwrite old data.

Import Type dropdown showing APPEND and REPLACE options

The Import Type dropdown lets you choose between APPEND and REPLACE modes

Creating a New Direct File Import

Follow these steps to create a new import template for your data files:

1

Enter Import Details

Start by clicking Create to begin the 4-step wizard.

Create Direct File Import wizard - Step 1

Import Name — Give your import a descriptive name (e.g., "AUM per Household", "Monthly Revenue Report")

Import Type — Choose APPEND or REPLACE based on how you want future uploads handled

Description — (Optional) Add notes about what this import is for

Click Save & Continue to proceed to step 2.

2

Upload Template File

Upload a sample file so Milemarker can detect the column structure and data types.

Tip: Make sure your file has headers in the first row. Milemarker will use these as column names.

Drag and drop your file or click Browse to select it from your computer.

3

Confirm Data Types

Review the detected columns and their data types to ensure accuracy.

Confirmation Data showing detected columns and types

Milemarker automatically detects the data type for each column:

VARCHAR

Text values

FLOAT

Decimal numbers

DATE

Date values

INTEGER

Whole numbers

Note: Columns labeled "UNNAMED_XX" indicate empty or missing headers in your source file. Consider cleaning up your file to remove unnecessary columns.

4

Review Summary & Save

Review all settings and click Save to create your import template.

Success! Once created, your import template is ready. You can upload new files to it at any time using the same structure.

Uploading Files to an Existing Import

Once you've created an import template, you can upload new files whenever you have updated data.

View Direct File Import - File Upload tab

1

Navigate to your existing import and select the File Upload tab

2

In the "Upload File to Milemarker Data Lake" section, drag and drop your file or click Browse

3

Click Upload to process the file

The right panel shows details about your import:

• Latest Upload — When the last file was uploaded
• File Name — Name of the most recent file
• Import Type — Whether it's set to APPEND or REPLACE
• Created At — When this import template was first created

Viewing Import History & Details

The History & Details tab shows you a complete record of all uploads and the technical details of your import.

Import History

Shows a log of every file uploaded to this import, including:

• Date and time imported
• File name
• Who uploaded it

File Details

Technical information about your template file:

• Template file name and storage location
• Whether the file has headers
• Complete list of columns and their data types

Editing an Existing Import

Click the Edit button to modify your import settings. You can change:

Import Name

Update the display name to keep things organized

Import Type

Switch between APPEND and REPLACE modes

Description

Add or update notes about this import

Caution: Changing the Import Type affects how future uploads are processed. If you switch from APPEND to REPLACE, the next upload will overwrite all existing data.

Best Practices

Use Consistent Headers

Keep your column headers the same across all uploads. Milemarker uses these to match data to the correct fields.

Clean Your Data First

Remove empty rows, fix formatting issues, and ensure dates/numbers are consistent before uploading.

Choose the Right Import Type

Use APPEND for cumulative data (transactions, events). Use REPLACE for snapshot data (current balances, status reports).

Use Descriptive Names

Name your imports clearly so you and your team can easily find and manage them later.

Common Use Cases

AUM & Revenue Reports

Import periodic AUM snapshots or revenue data for tracking and analysis.

Client Data Updates

Upload updated client information that isn't captured by integrations.

Historical Data Migration

Bring in legacy data from previous systems during onboarding.

Supplemental Metrics

Add custom KPIs or metrics that you track outside of standard integrations.

Need Help?

Our team is here to assist with setting up your file imports or troubleshooting any issues.

Contact Support