Introduction: In this tutorial, Tony Holowitz addresses a common issue faced by ACT CRM v24 Update 8 users when exporting data to Excel. The problem involves special characters, particularly question marks, appearing in the exported data, causing confusion and compatibility issues. Tony demonstrates a solution to this problem and provides step-by-step guidance for exporting data without the unwanted characters. This tutorial is especially helpful for users who regularly export data from ACT CRM to Excel and seek a streamlined process to avoid data inconsistencies.

1. Identifying the Export Issue: Tony begins by explaining the issue encountered by one of his clients using ACT CRM v24 Update 8. When exporting data to Excel, the client noticed question marks (special characters) appearing in the exported file, which were not visible within Excel. This discrepancy led to difficulties when importing the data into another program.

2. Exporting Data to Excel: Tony showcases the typical export process by performing a sample lookup in ACT CRM. He demonstrates how to export data to Excel by clicking on the Excel icon in the list view. However, he points out that this method may not display special characters visibly within Excel.

3. Utilizing Export Wizard for Proper Data Export: To address the special characters issue, Tony suggests using the Export Wizard. He explains how to access the Export Wizard by clicking on “File” and selecting “Export.” From there, users can choose the appropriate export format, such as “Text Delimited” or “CSV,” which allows special characters to be visible in the exported file.

4. Customizing Exported Data: When using the Export Wizard, users can selectively choose the fields they want to export. Tony advises his client, Mary, to narrow down the fields to be exported, eliminating unnecessary data. This can be achieved by clicking on “Next” and removing unwanted fields one by one. After customizing the export, users can save the selected fields as a “Map” for future use, streamlining the process for subsequent exports.

5. Save and Load Map: Tony guides Mary through the process of saving her custom export settings as a map named “Mary2023.” This way, Mary can simply load the map in future exports to maintain her chosen field preferences. This time-saving feature is particularly beneficial for regular data exports.

Conclusion: By following Tony Holowitz’s expert guidance, ACT CRM v24 Update 8 users can effectively tackle the issue of special characters in exported data. The Export Wizard offers a reliable solution to ensure visibility of special characters in Excel. With the ability to customize exports and save maps, users like Mary can streamline the data export process, avoiding compatibility issues and enhancing data accuracy in subsequent exports.