ExtendInsights Data Management lets you retrieve, create, update, and delete NetSuite records from Excel. This guide introduces the workspace and common workflows. Use the linked guides for detailed instructions.
Who Is This For?
ExtendInsights for Data Management is used by teams across the organization, including:
Finance
Sales and Marketing
Operations
NetSuite Administrators
Any NetSuite user who manages data in Excel
🎥 Start with the Overview Video
We recommend watching the short all-in-one overview video, then following the sections below to get hands-on.
Step 1: Install and Connect to NetSuite
Install the ExtendInsights Excel add-in from Microsoft AppSource
Then open the ExtendInsights task pane in Excel.
Follow the connection guide for your licensed application to authenticate and connect to NetSuite. You may need to select the correct NetSuite role and environment.
➡️ See Connecting to NetSuite for login instructions.
The task pane indicates the active NetSuite environment:
Blue: Production or Test Drive
Green: Sandbox
Verify whether you’re connected to Production, Sandbox, or Test Drive
Step 2: Understand Templates
Templates map NetSuite records and fields to Excel. When you load a template, each column represents a NetSuite field, and each row represents a record or transaction line.
Templates let you retrieve, create, update, or delete records, depending on the workflow and your NetSuite permissions.
You can use a prebuilt template or create one by selecting a NetSuite record type and the fields you need. The Template Builder lets you search for fields by name.
➡️ Full Guide: What are ExtendInsights Templates and how to build them?
Step 3: Choose a workflow
Once you load a template, you can work with NetSuite data in Excel. The available actions depend on the template, your NetSuite role permissions, and the record type.
Retrieve records
Retrieve existing records using a saved search, data filters, or internal IDs.
➡️ See Download records using ExtendInsights for an overview of retrieval methods.
Update records
Download the records you want to change, edit the data in Excel, and upload your changes to NetSuite. Keep the Internal ID unchanged so ExtendInsights can identify the existing record. You can also select specific rows to upload or add lines to an existing transaction.
➡️ See Updating NetSuite records for step-by-step instructions.
Create records
You can create a record from scratch, create one based on an existing record, or create multiple records in one upload. For transactions with multiple lines, rows with the same header-level values are grouped into one record. A change to a header-level value, such as transaction date or memo, starts a separate record.
➡️ See Creating records with ExtendInsights for examples.
Delete records or remove lines
You need the appropriate NetSuite Delete permission for the record type. Before deleting, retrieve the records into a template and confirm that you selected the correct records. Deleting records is irreversible. You can also remove lines from some existing transactions.
➡️ See Deleting records with ExtendInsights for details.
Step 4: Choose an upload method
ExtendInsights uses Real-Time Upload for many smaller uploads. For larger uploads, or if an upload takes longer than about 40 seconds, the app may prompt you to switch to Background Upload. With Background Upload, processing continues asynchronously in NetSuite while you continue working in Excel. You can close Excel and check the results later.
➡️ See Real-Time vs. Background Upload for more information.
Verify your results
After an upload, review the status messages in Excel. For additional confirmation, open the relevant record in NetSuite and check that the changes appear as expected.
💡 Tips
Confirm the active NetSuite environment before uploading.
Use a saved template when you repeat the same workflow.
Review the selected rows before uploading or deleting.
Check status messages in Excel and resolve any errors before retrying.
Need Help?
If you have questions or run into issues:
💬 Click the Help button in the bottom-right corner of the app
🔍 Visit the Help Center: https://www.cloudextend.io/support/
✉️ Contact your Customer Success Manager at cloudextend-success@celigo.com
📎 Screenshots and workbook examples are always helpful.