Pipeline Files + Importing, Exporting, Merging
Contacts and deals are stored together in data files called pipeline files, just as you might store that same information in a spreadsheet file.
File tab - Backstage
Desktop Sales Office features a File tab with a Backstage. Backstage includes sub-tabs for
- Pipelines: Open, Save, Save As, New, Import, Export
- Templates: Install, Reset, Sales Office Administrator (if installed)
- Campaigns: Install, Reset, Sales Office Administrator (if installed)
- @Cloud: Upload, Download, @Cloud Connection
- User: Information, Auto Dialing, Journal Configuration
- Email Server: Outbound Email Account information
- Exit: Stops the program
Filename extension
Pipeline files use the filename extension .pipeline. If you save your sales pipeline as "Western Region" it is stored in a file named "Western Region.pipeline".
Pipeline files are XML datafiles.
Moving pipeline files to other computers
A pipeline file is just like any other data file or spreadsheet file. You can move it to another computer, email it to a colleague, etc.
Links to documents are broken if the documents are deleted or if the sales pipeline file is moved to a computer that does not have the documents stored in the same location.
What is and isn't stored in a pipeline file?
Deals and contacts are stored in a pipeline file.
Your appointments and tasks are not stored in a pipeline file. They are saved in other files on your computer. As mentioned, linked documents are not stored within your pipeline file. Any activity logs are not kept in the sales pipeline file.
Importing Contacts
Contacts can be imported through the File tab / Backstage area.
Merging Deals and Contacts
Deals or Contacts can be merged from other .pipeline files into your current pipeline. This provides a great mechanism for consolidating different pipelines. For example you might want to consolidate several pipelines into a single list for a mailing. Another example is the territory manager who wants to consolidate data from several of his sales reps and roll them together into a single pipeline. Duplicates are avoided by automatically including the latest version of any duplicated item.
Building An-All-In One-Consolidated Pipeline
Sales managers or company executives can build a consolidated sales forecast pipeline by merging individual pipelines together. This is especially simple if all the individual pipelines are stored in a common location - for example a subdirectory called /sales/ on a networked disk. Using the CTRL key or SHIFT key when choosing files allows you to merge more than one pipeline at a time.
Save your pipeline frequently
It is always a good practice to frequently save the pipeline file after changes have been made. Any changes you may have made are not automatically saved to disk until you invoke Save or Save As.
Auto-Save when the program is ending
If you have unsaved changes in your sales pipeline you will be prompted to save the changes. If you choose not to save your changes they will be lost.
Last pipeline automatically re-opened
The last sales pipeline is automatically re-opened when the program starts.