Import Options

Configuration options for imports

TL;DR: First import = all checkboxes ON. Monthly sync = disable "Update Unit Assignments". Annual advancement = all ON including unit assignments.

Options Overview

Option	Default	When to Enable	When to Disable
Create Units	✅ On	First import, new dens exist	All units manually created
Update Existing	✅ On	Re-import, sync changes	Manual corrections you want to keep
Import Relationships	✅ On	First import, new families	Manually managing relationships
Import Positions	✅ On	First import, positions changed	Manually assigned positions
Update Unit Assignments	❌ Off	Annual advancement, den changes	Don't want to reassign members

Create Units

Does: Auto-creates dens/patrols from roster

ScoutBook+/Legacy: Uses den names and numbers My.Scouting: Limited (no unit data exported)

First import: Leave enabled. Creates dens with proper cohort years automatically.

Update Existing Members

Does: Updates data for members matched by BSA Member ID

Updates:

Contact info (email, phone, address)
Registration dates
Positions (if Import Positions enabled)
Training records
Grade

Doesn't update:

BSA Member ID
Member type (youth/adult)
User account links

Merge strategy: Adds new data, preserves existing data not in import

Import Relationships

Does: Creates parent-child links

How:

ScoutBook+: Uses BSA Member IDs (most reliable)
ScoutBook Legacy: Matches parent emails
My.Scouting: Not supported (no parent data)

Import Positions

Does: Adds adult leadership positions

Behavior:

Additive: Adds to existing positions (doesn't replace)
No removals: Doesn't remove old positions
Duplicates prevented: Won't add same position twice

Filtered: Administrative positions (Key 3 Delegate, etc.) excluded

Update Unit Assignments

Does: Reassigns members if their unit changed in roster

Preview behavior: Shows potential changes even when disabled (Preview shows what WOULD change; option controls whether changes apply)

Enable for:

Annual advancement (Tigers → Wolves → Bears)
Den reorganization
Members moving between units

Disable for:

First import (no existing assignments)
Manually organized dens
Untrusted roster data

Common Scenarios

First Import

✅ Create Units
✅ Update Existing (N/A - no existing members)
✅ Import Relationships
✅ Import Positions
❌ Update Unit Assignments (N/A - no existing assignments)

Monthly Sync

❌ Create Units (already exist)
✅ Update Existing
✅ Import Relationships (new families)
✅ Import Positions (changes)
❌ Update Unit Assignments (unless changed)

Annual Advancement

✅ Create Units (new grade-level dens)
✅ Update Existing
✅ Import Relationships
✅ Import Positions
✅ Update Unit Assignments (scouts moving up)

Post-Recharter

❌ Create Units
✅ Update Existing (registration dates)
❌ Import Relationships (unchanged)
❌ Import Positions (unchanged)
❌ Update Unit Assignments (unchanged)

Changing Options

Before executing:

Adjust checkboxes
Preview updates automatically
Review new results
Adjust again if needed

After executing:

Re-import same file with different options
TroopBook applies only new changes (won't duplicate)

Questions

Can I undo an option choice?

Re-import with corrected options
TroopBook matches by BSA ID (won't duplicate)

What if I'm not sure?

Start conservative (disable Update Unit Assignments)
Review preview carefully
Can always re-import with different options

Will enabling all options cause problems?

Usually no
Be cautious with "Update Unit Assignments" (verify preview)