Skip to main content
How can we help?

Bulk Copy Field Values in Form Records

← All Topics

Bulk copying fills one field with values from another field across all existing, non-deleted records of a form. Each record uses its own source values. The operation runs once; future changes are not copied automatically.

For example, copy each purchase request’s Estimated total cost into a new Total amount field without opening and editing every record.

Before you start

  • The operation applies to all existing records of the selected form, excluding deleted records.
  • Existing destination values are overwritten when the source has a value. Empty source fields leave the destination unchanged.
  • Create the destination field in the form template first if it does not already exist.

Choose fields and start copying

  1. Go to Admin tools → Form templates. Open the template’s gear menu and select Bulk copy field values.
  2. Under Field pairs, choose the Source field containing the values and the Destination field that should receive them.
  3. Select Add field pair to copy additional pairs of fields in the same operation.
  4. Review the field pairs and any warnings about converting values or copying multiple values into a field that accepts only one.
  5. Select Start bulk copy to run the operation.
  6. Check the status and report under Recent copy operations.

How values are copied

  • Empty sources: the destination is left unchanged.
  • Conversion failures: values that cannot be converted leave the destination unchanged and are listed in the report.
  • Files: file values are duplicated.
  • Multiple field pairs: all source values are read before any copies are applied. One copy cannot change the source value used by another pair in the same operation.
  • Dates and times: conversions use the account owner’s timezone.

Review the results

Use Recent copy operations to check the status, item and processed counts, and the copied, empty, failed and uncertain mapping counts. Open the report to review individual records and any values that could not be converted. Completed and failed operations, including their reports, are kept for 365 days.

When to use bulk copying

  • Populate a new field: copy existing values into a field added to the form later.
  • Consolidate older fields: copy values from a legacy field into the field your team now uses.
  • Populate a metadata-linked field: copy historical values into a form field linked to an existing metadata field. This is useful when moving several forms to shared metadata.