The quick answer
Use a distinct External ID for each journal and repeat it on that journal’s lines. Balance each group, map the header and line fields, then inspect the created journals and their posted amounts.
The screenshots show a recorded demonstration with sample data. Use your own records and values when following the steps.
Before you start
Use fresh External IDs, eligible account names, an open posting period, and permission to import and post journals. This prepared file contains standard journals, not advanced intercompany entries. Reports should be checked only after approval and posting.
01. Check the two balanced groups
Review operating-journals.csv. BATCH-OP41 pairs a 2,350 debit to 6515 Promotion with a credit to 2195 Accrued Costs. BATCH-OP42 pairs 1,680 to 6625 Coverage and the same credit account. Each journal balances independently. Four rows represent two journals.
02. Choose a creation import
Open Setup → Import/Export → Import CSV Records. Choose Transactions → Journal Entry, UTF-8, and the prepared CSV. Continue and select Add. Review the journal form and applicable Advanced Options before mapping.
03. Map journal headers and lines
Map External ID and Memo to the journal header, and Account, Debit and Credit to Journal Entry Line. Set default Subsidiary Cedar Harbor Supply and Date 08/31/2026. In Account mapping settings, verify Reference Type Name and unambiguous eligible accounts.
04. Run and inspect import status
Continue to Save mapping & Start Import and choose Save & Run. Open Import Job Status and wait for completion. Review the successful count and any CSV response errors before checking the records.
05. Count and inspect the journals
Open Transactions → Financial → Make Journal Entries → List. Locate BATCH-OP41 and BATCH-OP42, two separate journals with the expected amounts and Approved state in this example. Open each and compare its two lines before relying on reporting.
06. Trace the posted expenses
Open Reports → Financial → Income Statement. Set August 2026 and the same subsidiary, then Refresh. In this controlled dataset, Promotion is 2,350 and Coverage is 1,680. Drill into Promotion to inspect its journal detail.
07. Match the report link to the journal
Open the journal from Promotion detail. Match JE-92041, August 31, the campaign accrual memo, the 2,350 Promotion debit and offsetting Accrued Costs credit. Report navigation has not created another journal.
Check the result
- Two External ID groups created two distinct journals.
- Each journal independently balances and is approved and posted in scope.
- The report detail links back to the expected journal and amount.
Common questions
How do I import multiple journal entries from one CSV?
Use one row per journal line and repeat the same External ID on the lines belonging to one journal. In the Import Assistant, select Transactions > Journal Entry, choose Add, map the journal and line fields, provide the required date and subsidiary, then run the import.
Why do four CSV rows create two journals instead of four?
Each CSV row represents a journal line, not a complete journal. In this example, rows sharing BATCH-OP41 create one balanced journal and rows sharing BATCH-OP42 create another; each pair must balance independently.
How do External IDs separate and identify the journals?
Map the CSV External ID to the journal header’s External ID. Repeating an ID groups lines into one journal, while distinct IDs separate journals. Use fresh IDs for an Add import because reusing an existing ID can cause a duplicate or existing-record error.
How do I verify that the imported amounts posted?
First confirm that the import completed, then open the journal list and verify both journal records, their two-line debit and credit pairs, approval state, and posting status. After approval and posting, refresh the same-period Income Statement for the same subsidiary and reporting context, then drill into the account detail to match the imported journal and amounts; the example amounts are test values, not proof of a live import.