SuiteTalk (Web Services) Platform Guide - NetSuite

Web Services Operationsupsert261upsertSOAP ResponseThe upsert operation is used to add a new instance or to update an instance of a record inNetSuite. It is similar to the upsertList operation, which allows users to add or update morethan one record at a time.The upsert operation is similar to both the add and update operations, but upsert can be runwithout first determining whether a record exists in NetSuite. A record is identified by itsexternal ID and its record type. If a record of the specified type with a matching external IDexists in the system, it is updated. If it does not exist, a new record is created.Because external ID is mandatory for this operation, upsert is supported only for records thatsupport the external ID field. For a list of these records, see NetSuite Record Types thatSupport External ID. Also, this operation prohibits the passing of internal ID values.Limitations on upsert• Although records of a particular type may be used in multiple integration scenarios,each record instance can only have a single external ID value. In order to maintain dataintegrity, only a single integrated application can set and update external ID values foreach record type. External ID values for all records of a particular type must all comefrom the same external application.• Upsert cannot complete updates during an initialize / initializeList operation, when arecord is transformed into a record of another type. In this case, upsert only adds anddoes not update records.• Updates through the upsert operation are also subject to the same limitations asupdates through the update operation. For details of these limitations, see update.SuiteTalk Platform Guide