18. Guides

Set Up a Source Profile

Build a reusable Source Profile from a representative bank or card export so later imports need less setup.

Use this guide when you expect to import the same bank or card export more than once.

1. Bring a representative export #

Choose a recent CSV or TSV file that includes its normal headings and a few ordinary transactions. A profile should describe the real layout you will import, not an abbreviated example.

2. Open Import Center or start the import #

From the Transactions page, open Import Center, then choose Create Source Profile. Or start importing the representative file as everyday transactions first; if no Source Profile recognizes it, choose Set Up Source Profile in the workspace. The file you already loaded becomes the sample data for setup, and saving returns you to that import.

3. Load the sample and name the profile #

Choose Load Sample Data to populate the format, headings, and likely columns. Give the profile a name that identifies the source, such as “Checking CSV.” Loading the file opens the expanded sample-data workspace; it does not create transactions.

4. Map required and useful columns #

Map the date and amount columns. If the export separates debits and credits, choose the debit/credit amount strategy.

Optionally map:

payee or description
category
label, when Labels are enabled
bank transaction ID

Map the bank transaction ID when possible. Common Cents can use it to safely skip an exact row that was imported before.

5. Review cleaned merchants #

With a payee or description column mapped, inspect the sample cleaned merchants. Common Cents handles ordinary bank formatting automatically. Use Customize merchant cleanup only when the real source consistently needs an extra cleanup step.

6. Choose source-data retention #

Decide whether completed imports should retain their mapped bank values until you purge them. The profile also keeps compact duplicate fingerprints without retaining the original mapped values.

7. Save and test the profile #

Save the profile, then use Import transactions with the same export layout. The workspace should recognize the profile exactly, stage the rows, and ask only for the destination account and any merchant exceptions.

If the bank changes its headings or columns, edit the Source Profile and save a new revision. Do not rely on a weak match.