How to Send Data to Existing Table Columns in a Database?

Patryk W. · 2026-01-19T13:09:20.377Z

lets say i have a table with Company Name and their Domain. I want to send these two details to another table which already contains Name and Domain columns and also few rows. How to send details to existing columns? It was possible using old Write to table feature, i cant handle it using Send table data feature.

How to Send Data to Existing Table Columns in a Database? | Clay

12 comments

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Clay Support
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With Send table data, you can definitely send to existing columns! Here's how:
1.
Go to Actions → Send table data
2.
Select your destination table
3.
Choose Send row method
4.
Select Company Name and Domain columns to send
Once the data arrives in your destination table, you'll see a source column created. To map it to your existing columns:
1.
Click into the source cell
2.
Hover over each field (Company Name, Domain)
3.
Click Add to column
4.
Choose Map to existing column and select your existing Name and Domain columns [1]
The key difference from the old Write to Table is this mapping step - Send table data creates a source column first, then you map the fields to your existing columns. [2]
Clay Support
APP
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Was that helpful?
Patryk W.
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no, mapping like that forces the column to be overwritten so all the old details from these columns disappear
Clay Support
APP
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I'm sorry to hear that the mapping caused data loss. I’ll connect you to a human agent who can assist you further with this issue.
Clay Support
APP
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·
Our support team has got your message and we'll get back to you soon! We're currently outside of our standard office hours (9 AM to 9 PM EST, Monday through Friday), so it may take a little longer for us to respond.

If you’re dealing with a specific table, drop the URL below so we can help you quicker. Otherwise, someone from our team will be in touch soon!

image.png(93 kB)
Patryk W.
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no, its just a test now. But i dont want to delete old rows, i only want to add new ones from the other table. So its like that: I have 5 rows manually added in Table A. Now i want to add new 10 rows from other table B, so i use Send table data in Table B. Now in Table A i want to map these values to existing columns, but it says that it will cause the old data to be overwritten.
Patryk W.
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Clay S.
Bo (.
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Hey,
You can do this with Send Table Data without deleting or overwriting existing rows.
When you set up Send Table Data from Table B to Table A:
Choose Table A as the destination.
In the mapping step, double-click each field from Table B and map it to the existing columns in Table A like Company Name and Domain.
At the bottom of the mapping panel, make sure Map to existing columns is enabled and Auto-extract new columns is turned off.
This will append the new rows from Table B into Table A and place the values into the existing columns, without touching the rows that are already there.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Patryk W.
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yes, but i realised that it works only if the destination column contains a data point that isnt typed manually, otherwise it will be overwritten. Thanks fro the reply tho!
Patryk W.
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Bo (. but i have a question regarding Send table data, what does "Auto-map existing columns" in advanced settings do?
Patryk W.
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with a simple example if its possible 🙏 thx in advance
Ethan H.
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The "Auto-map existing columns" option in the "Send table data" advanced settings automatically updates the formulas of existing columns in your destination table to reference the new source data you're sending.
How it works:
When this toggle is ON:
For existing columns in the destination table that have formulas, Clay will automatically update those formulas to pull data from the "Rows from:" source column created by Send table data
This saves you from manually clicking into each source cell, hovering over fields, and selecting "Add to column" → "Map to existing column"
Important caveat:
For existing columns that don't have formulas (e.g., manually entered data or CSV imports), Clay will NOT update the formula to avoid accidentally overwriting your data.

Clay Support
APP
·
·
With Send table data, you can definitely send to existing columns! Here's how:
1.
Go to Actions → Send table data
2.
Select your destination table
3.
Choose Send row method
4.
Select Company Name and Domain columns to send
Once the data arrives in your destination table, you'll see a source column created. To map it to your existing columns:
1.
Click into the source cell
2.
Hover over each field (Company Name, Domain)
3.
Click Add to column
4.
Choose Map to existing column and select your existing Name and Domain columns [1]
The key difference from the old Write to Table is this mapping step - Send table data creates a source column first, then you map the fields to your existing columns. [2]
Clay Support
APP
·
·
Was that helpful?
Patryk W.
·
·
no, mapping like that forces the column to be overwritten so all the old details from these columns disappear
Clay Support
APP
·
·
I'm sorry to hear that the mapping caused data loss. I’ll connect you to a human agent who can assist you further with this issue.
Clay Support
APP
·
·
Our support team has got your message and we'll get back to you soon! We're currently outside of our standard office hours (9 AM to 9 PM EST, Monday through Friday), so it may take a little longer for us to respond.

If you’re dealing with a specific table, drop the URL below so we can help you quicker. Otherwise, someone from our team will be in touch soon!

image.png(93 kB)
Patryk W.
·
·
no, its just a test now. But i dont want to delete old rows, i only want to add new ones from the other table. So its like that: I have 5 rows manually added in Table A. Now i want to add new 10 rows from other table B, so i use Send table data in Table B. Now in Table A i want to map these values to existing columns, but it says that it will cause the old data to be overwritten.
Patryk W.
·
·
Clay S.
Bo (.
·
·
Hey,
You can do this with Send Table Data without deleting or overwriting existing rows.
When you set up Send Table Data from Table B to Table A:
Choose Table A as the destination.
In the mapping step, double-click each field from Table B and map it to the existing columns in Table A like Company Name and Domain.
At the bottom of the mapping panel, make sure Map to existing columns is enabled and Auto-extract new columns is turned off.
This will append the new rows from Table B into Table A and place the values into the existing columns, without touching the rows that are already there.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Patryk W.
·
·
yes, but i realised that it works only if the destination column contains a data point that isnt typed manually, otherwise it will be overwritten. Thanks fro the reply tho!
Patryk W.
·
·
Bo (. but i have a question regarding Send table data, what does "Auto-map existing columns" in advanced settings do?
Patryk W.
·
·
with a simple example if its possible 🙏 thx in advance
Ethan H.
·
·
The "Auto-map existing columns" option in the "Send table data" advanced settings automatically updates the formulas of existing columns in your destination table to reference the new source data you're sending.
How it works:
When this toggle is ON:
For existing columns in the destination table that have formulas, Clay will automatically update those formulas to pull data from the "Rows from:" source column created by Send table data
This saves you from manually clicking into each source cell, hovering over fields, and selecting "Add to column" → "Map to existing column"
Important caveat:
For existing columns that don't have formulas (e.g., manually entered data or CSV imports), Clay will NOT update the formula to avoid accidentally overwriting your data.