How hard is it to import contribution information?

It's easy! CiviCRM gives you a few options — at the very least the import option.

1. Import. You can import a file in Comma-Separated-Values (CSV) format. Enter contributions into an excel sheet (pretty fast data entry, though there are validation issues). Clean the data (easy with good excel tools). Upload into online system.

CiviCRM has a fairly sophisticated contributions import options.

1. Some systems allow you to create custom screens. In CiviCRM this is called a "profile." Starting with CiviCRM 1.6, you can create your own custom contribution data entry screen.
2. Via API. You could create a PHP page that allows you to do custom data entry. You can find CiviCRM API documentation at API Overview .

And, as is the process with open source, you can get a feature like better data entry of contributions into CiviCRM by contributing your opinions and your time.

[Source , nten-discuss@groups.nten.org, 13 Dec 2006.]