Data Import & Migration
Gäld includes a built-in migration tool for importing data from your previous accounting software. You can migrate accounts, contacts, invoices, expenses, journal entries, fixed assets, and opening balances.
Supported Platforms
| Platform | File formats | Supported data |
|---|---|---|
| Bexio | CSV, XLS, XLSX | Accounts, contacts, invoices, expenses |
| Banana | CSV, TXT, TSV | Accounts, journal entries, opening balances |
| Abacus | CSV, XML, TXT | Accounts, contacts, journal entries, fixed assets |
| Generic CSV | CSV, TXT, TSV | All data types (with column mapping) |
If your software is not listed, export your data as CSV and use the Generic CSV importer. You'll map columns to Gäld fields during the import process.
Import Workflow
1. Start a migration session
Go to Settings → Data Import and select your source platform. This creates a migration session that tracks all your imports as a group.
2. Upload files
Upload one file per data type (e.g. one file for contacts, one for invoices). For Generic CSV imports, you will be asked to:
- Select the data type the file contains
- Map each column to the corresponding Gäld field
- Set the delimiter if it is not a comma
3. Preview and map accounts
Before importing, Gäld shows you a preview of the parsed data:
- Sample rows — verify the data looks correct
- Account mapping — Gäld suggests matches between your old chart of accounts and the Gäld Kontenrahmen KMU, using both account numbers and fuzzy name matching. Review and adjust the mappings.
4. Execute the import
Select which data types to import. Gäld imports them in dependency order automatically (e.g. accounts before journal entries, contacts before invoices). For large imports (500+ rows), processing runs in the background via the job queue.
Import progress is tracked per data type with these statuses:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Queued for import |
| Validating | Checking data integrity |
| Importing | Writing to database |
| Completed | All rows imported successfully |
| Partially completed | Some rows imported, some failed validation |
| Failed | Import could not proceed |
5. Review and rollback
After import, review the results. If something went wrong, you can rollback the entire session — this reverses all imported data and restores the previous state.
Importable Data Types
| Data type | Description |
|---|---|
| Accounts | Chart of accounts with codes and names |
| Opening balances | Account balances at the start of a fiscal year |
| Journal entries | Historical transactions |
| Contacts | Customers and suppliers |
| Invoices | Sales invoices with line items |
| Expenses | Business expenses |
| Fixed assets | Depreciable assets |
| Year-end closing | Closing entries for prior fiscal years |
Tips for a Smooth Migration
- Export from your old software first — most platforms have an "Export" or "Data download" function. Export each category (contacts, invoices, etc.) separately.
- Use UTF-8 encoding — if your CSV contains special characters (ä, ö, ü, é), ensure the file is saved as UTF-8.
- Import accounts first — other data types reference accounts, so import your chart of accounts before journal entries or invoices.
- Check the preview — always review the preview before executing. Pay special attention to account mappings and amount formats.
- Start fresh if needed — you can delete a migration session and start over without affecting your existing Gäld data.