The present invention is directed to a Siebel SPF template file update utility. A method for updating a template file in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: obtaining a template file, an existing row_id, and a target row_id; scanning the template file for section markers; locating an encoded length of a section of the template file using a section marker; decoding the encoded length of the section to obtain a section length; reading the section in its entirety using the section length; scanning the section to locate each instance of the existing row_id; replacing each instance of the existing row_id with the target row_id; and recalculating and re-encoding the section length. This process is repeated for each additional section marker.