---
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title: Considerations When Importing a File
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version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_as_use_an_import_activity.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_use_an_import_activity.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
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description: Use an external file to update a subscriber list or data extension in Automation Studio. During the process, you also create an import definition to configure the Data Copy or Import (formerly Import File) activity’s behavior while running. The activity uses the import definition each time it runs.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Considerations When Importing a File

Use an external file to update a subscriber list or data extension in Automation Studio. During the process, you also create an import definition to configure the Data Copy or Import (formerly Import File) activity’s behavior while running. The activity uses the import definition each time it runs.

- When overwriting existing data during an import and blank file processing and skip bad data are turned on, make sure that you’re using a truly blank file or a file with valid data. A file with bad data can’t overwrite.
- If the file you’re importing is encrypted or compressed, you can use a file transfer activity to prepare the file for import.
- The File Naming Pattern has a 100-character limit.
- While entering the name of the import file, use a dynamic file naming pattern based on date and timestamp variables.
- Marketing Cloud Connect users can create a Data Copy or Import (formerly Import File) activity to populate a data extension with object and report data from other clouds through Synchronized Data Sources.
- You can specify the character encoding your imports use by contacting your Salesforce admin. The encoding you enable applies to all imports in an account.
- Marketing Cloud Engagement assumes that the FTP server in the selected file transfer location reports time in UTC. UTC assumes no time zone offset. If the remote FTP server isn’t on UTC, adjust limits specified on the Properties page, including the system buffer, during activity setup to ensure that the activity runs on the intended schedule.
- To access Salesforce Objects and Reports, navigate to Interactions in Email Studio.