# Import Data into Bkper

Importing data into Bkper is straightforward because it leverages the [Bkper Agent's](https://bkper.com/apps/bookbot.md) capabilities to match transactions to the right Accounts — avoiding the complexity of mapping fields between systems.

Bank Connections post transactions automatically. For manual imports, you can import data from CSV files, Google Sheets, and Google Apps Script.

Common reasons to import data:

- Start a Book with **historical data**
- **Periodically update** a Book from an external source
- **Merge** transactions from another Book
- Copy transactions from another Book

## Importing from Google Sheets

Use the [Bkper Add-on for Google Sheets](https://bkper.com/docs/guides/google-sheets.md) to import data directly from a spreadsheet.

Open the add-on from **Extensions > Bkper > Open**.

Select the cells containing the data you want to record.

Choose the Book where you want to import the data, then press **Record**. The selected rows are recorded as drafts in your Book.

> **Tip**
> For the best results with the Bkper Agent's auto-discovery, order your data as:
> **Date | Amount | From Account | To Account | Description | URLs**
> 
> For example: `01/25/2018 34.67 Bank Transportation filling gas https://receipturl`
To copy or merge transactions between Books, first [export](https://bkper.com/docs/guides/using-bkper/data-import-export/export-data.md) the transactions to a Google Sheet, then import them into the target Book using the steps above.

## Batch importing Accounts

The [Bkper Add-on for Google Sheets](https://bkper.com/docs/guides/google-sheets.md) also makes it easy to create Accounts in bulk. This is especially useful when setting up a new Book from a template or migrating an existing [Chart of Accounts](https://bkper.com/docs/guides/using-bkper/chart-of-accounts.md).

Open a Google Sheet and go to **Extensions > Bkper > Open**. Select your Book, switch to the **Record** tab, and choose **Accounts**. Highlight the cells containing the Account data you want to import, then click **Record**.

The new Accounts appear immediately in your Book, ready for use.

> **Tip**
> Enable the **Highlight** checkbox in the add-on so that Account rows in Google Sheets are color-coded to match their [Account Type](https://bkper.com/docs/core-concepts.md#account-types) in Bkper, making it easier to review what you imported.