Articles on: Your Animals & Records

Importing records

Use Import records to bring past history into animals already on Creatures, such as a stack of vet papers or a herd spreadsheet. Upload your files, check the records Creatures finds and the animal each one matches, then confirm what to add.


Choose the animals


  1. Open the animal's Records and choose Import records. For a group of animals with their own profiles, open the group and choose Import records at the top.
  2. Check that Add records to existing animals is selected.
  3. Check Where should we match these records? Starting from an animal picks Choose animals and fills in that animal under Match within animals (optional). Starting from a group picks Choose a group.
  4. Change the choice if you need to: All animals, Choose animals or Choose a group.


Add records to existing animals selected, with All animals, Choose animals and Choose a group, and Isla of Glen Lyon chosen


Choose a group matches within the animals in that group when the import starts. Keep the choice as narrow as your papers allow.


Creatures matches records by registration number, tag or microchip. If only the name matches, you choose the right animal during review. Always check that each match is correct.


Add your sources


  1. Under Upload files, choose Choose or drop files for a spreadsheet, export, PDF or image. You can add up to 20 files, 5 MB each.
  2. Use Take photos for paper records.
  3. If the records are on a public breeder or registry website, add the link under Link to a breeder or registry website (optional).
  4. Choose Add records to prepare the review.


Upload files (optional) with the Choose or drop files and Take photos choices, and the note that up to 20 files of 5MB each are supported


Clear, complete papers with ID numbers and dates match best. A Google Sheet or a farm software page you sign in to usually can't be read from its link. Export it as CSV, Excel or PDF and upload the file instead.


For a page only members can see, such as a registry page you are signed in to, open Paste the page text. Copy the text from the animal's page and paste it in. The box shows where the records will go, for example Add records to Isla of Glen Lyon. Then choose Prepare review. If you also added files or a link, Creatures asks about them first. Choose a button such as Read the files too to read them as a second import, or Only the text.


Review before you confirm


Check the animal match, record type, date and key details against your papers. Take extra care with treatments, registration numbers, units and privacy. Fix or leave out anything that doesn't belong before you confirm. Nothing is added until you do.


For each step of the review, see Reviewing, editing, and confirming an import.


After the import, the new entries appear in Record history with an Imported label, so you can tell them apart from records you logged yourself.


To create new animal profiles as well as records, see Import your animals from files, photos, or a website. For one event, see Adding a record.



Updated on: 31/10/2026

Was this article helpful?

Share your feedback

Cancel

Thank you!