diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index d6f1f959f..c13d44560 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -41,10 +41,12 @@ type InternalClient interface {
 	ImportK(ctx context.Context, index, field string, bits []Bit) error
 	EnsureIndex(ctx context.Context, name string, options IndexOptions) error
 	EnsureField(ctx context.Context, indexName string, fieldName string) error
+	EnsureFieldWithOptions(ctx context.Context, index, field string, opt FieldOptions) error
 	ImportValue(ctx context.Context, index, field string, shard uint64, vals []FieldValue) error
 	ImportValueK(ctx context.Context, index, field string, vals []FieldValue) error
 	ExportCSV(ctx context.Context, index, field string, shard uint64, w io.Writer) error
 	CreateField(ctx context.Context, index, field string) error
+	CreateFieldWithOptions(ctx context.Context, index, field string, opt FieldOptions) error
 	FragmentBlocks(ctx context.Context, uri *URI, index, field, view string, shard uint64) ([]FragmentBlock, error)
 	BlockData(ctx context.Context, uri *URI, index, field, view string, shard uint64, block int) ([]uint64, []uint64, error)
 	ColumnAttrDiff(ctx context.Context, uri *URI, index string, blks []AttrBlock) (map[uint64]map[string]interface{}, error)
@@ -116,6 +118,9 @@ func (n nopInternalClient) EnsureIndex(ctx context.Context, name string, options
 func (n nopInternalClient) EnsureField(ctx context.Context, indexName string, fieldName string) error {
 	return nil
 }
+func (n nopInternalClient) EnsureFieldWithOptions(ctx context.Context, index, field string, opt FieldOptions) error {
+	return nil
+}
 func (n nopInternalClient) ImportValue(ctx context.Context, index, field string, shard uint64, vals []FieldValue) error {
 	return nil
 }
@@ -126,6 +131,9 @@ func (n nopInternalClient) ExportCSV(ctx context.Context, index, field string, s
 	return nil
 }
 func (n nopInternalClient) CreateField(ctx context.Context, index, field string) error { return nil }
+func (n nopInternalClient) CreateFieldWithOptions(ctx context.Context, index, field string, opt FieldOptions) error {
+	return nil
+}
 func (n nopInternalClient) FragmentBlocks(ctx context.Context, uri *URI, index, field, view string, shard uint64) ([]FragmentBlock, error) {
 	return nil, nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/check.go b/cmd/check.go
index d7bd33afd..19e0519a8 100644
--- a/cmd/check.go
+++ b/cmd/check.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
@@ -27,8 +26,8 @@ import (
 
 var checker *ctl.CheckCommand
 
-func newCheckCommand(_ io.Reader, _, _ io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
-	checker = ctl.NewCheckCommand(os.Stdin, os.Stdout, os.Stderr)
+func newCheckCommand(stdin io.Reader, stdout io.Writer, stderr io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
+	checker = ctl.NewCheckCommand(stdin, stdout, stderr)
 	checkCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "check <path> [path2]...",
 		Short: "Do a consistency check on a pilosa data file.",
diff --git a/cmd/config.go b/cmd/config.go
index a877d12ef..73464ba65 100644
--- a/cmd/config.go
+++ b/cmd/config.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"context"
 	"io"
-	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
@@ -28,7 +27,7 @@ import (
 var conf *ctl.ConfigCommand
 
 func newConfigCommand(stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
-	conf = ctl.NewConfigCommand(os.Stdin, os.Stdout, os.Stderr)
+	conf = ctl.NewConfigCommand(stdin, stdout, stderr)
 	Server := server.NewCommand(stdin, stdout, stderr)
 	confCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "config",
diff --git a/cmd/export.go b/cmd/export.go
index 217e9f09c..6cfeb0d9c 100644
--- a/cmd/export.go
+++ b/cmd/export.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"context"
 	"io"
-	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
@@ -26,8 +25,8 @@ import (
 
 var Exporter *ctl.ExportCommand
 
-func newExportCommand(_ io.Reader, _, _ io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
-	Exporter = ctl.NewExportCommand(os.Stdin, os.Stdout, os.Stderr)
+func newExportCommand(stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
+	Exporter = ctl.NewExportCommand(stdin, stdout, stderr)
 	exportCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "export",
 		Short: "Export data from pilosa.",
diff --git a/cmd/generate_config.go b/cmd/generate_config.go
index 6421a1f4f..8c8553aa4 100644
--- a/cmd/generate_config.go
+++ b/cmd/generate_config.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"context"
 	"io"
-	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
@@ -26,8 +25,8 @@ import (
 
 var generateConf *ctl.GenerateConfigCommand
 
-func newGenerateConfigCommand(_ io.Reader, _, _ io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
-	generateConf = ctl.NewGenerateConfigCommand(os.Stdin, os.Stdout, os.Stderr)
+func newGenerateConfigCommand(stdin io.Reader, stdout io.Writer, stderr io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
+	generateConf = ctl.NewGenerateConfigCommand(stdin, stdout, stderr)
 	confCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "generate-config",
 		Short: "Print the default configuration.",
diff --git a/cmd/import.go b/cmd/import.go
index 7e82bfd46..3d63586ce 100644
--- a/cmd/import.go
+++ b/cmd/import.go
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ omitted. If it is present then its format should be YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM.
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Host, "host", "", "localhost:10101", "host:port of Pilosa.")
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Index, "index", "i", "", "Pilosa index to import into.")
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Field, "field", "f", "", "Field to import into.")
-	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.StringKeys, "string-keys", false, "REMOVED (key type is now determined by index/field configuration): Treat payload as string keys.")
+	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.IndexKeys, "index-keys", false, "use keys=true when creating an index")
+	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.FieldKeys, "field-keys", false, "use keys=true when creating a field")
 	flags.IntVarP(&Importer.BufferSize, "buffer-size", "s", 10000000, "Number of bits to buffer/sort before importing.")
 	flags.BoolVarP(&Importer.Sort, "sort", "", false, "Enables sorting before import.")
 	flags.BoolVarP(&Importer.CreateSchema, "create", "e", false, "Create the schema if it does not exist before import.")
diff --git a/cmd/inspect.go b/cmd/inspect.go
index 4f5ff9301..570e7aae3 100644
--- a/cmd/inspect.go
+++ b/cmd/inspect.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
@@ -27,8 +26,8 @@ import (
 
 var inspector *ctl.InspectCommand
 
-func newInspectCommand(_ io.Reader, _, _ io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
-	inspector = ctl.NewInspectCommand(os.Stdin, os.Stdout, os.Stderr)
+func newInspectCommand(stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
+	inspector = ctl.NewInspectCommand(stdin, stdout, stderr)
 
 	inspectCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "inspect",
diff --git a/ctl/import.go b/ctl/import.go
index 2969b581b..1c000dd73 100644
--- a/ctl/import.go
+++ b/ctl/import.go
@@ -40,15 +40,20 @@ type ImportCommand struct { // nolint: maligned
 	Index string `json:"index"`
 	Field string `json:"field"`
 
-	// Options for index & field to be created if they don't exist
+	// Options for the index to be created if it doesn't exist
 	indexOptions pilosa.IndexOptions
 
+	// Options for the field to be created if it doesn't exist
+	fieldOptions pilosa.FieldOptions
+
 	// CreateSchema ensures the schema exists before import
 	CreateSchema bool
 
-	// REMOVED: Indicates that the payload should be treated as string keys.
-	// TODO: remove this in a future release
-	StringKeys bool `json:"StringKeys"`
+	// IndexKeys makes the import command use keys=true when creating an index
+	IndexKeys bool `json:"indexKeys"`
+
+	// FieldKeys makes the import command use keys=true when creating a field
+	FieldKeys bool `json:"fieldKeys"`
 
 	// Filenames to import from.
 	Paths []string `json:"paths"`
@@ -80,11 +85,6 @@ func NewImportCommand(stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer) *ImportCommand
 func (cmd *ImportCommand) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	logger := log.New(cmd.Stderr, "", log.LstdFlags)
 
-	// REMOVED: warning that --string-keys flag has been deprecated.
-	if cmd.StringKeys {
-		logger.Printf("REMOVED: The string-keys flag is no longer used.")
-	}
-
 	// Validate arguments.
 	// Index and field are validated early before the files are parsed.
 	if cmd.Index == "" {
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ func (cmd *ImportCommand) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	cmd.client = client
 
 	if cmd.CreateSchema {
+		cmd.indexOptions = pilosa.IndexOptions{
+			Keys: cmd.IndexKeys,
+		}
+		cmd.fieldOptions = pilosa.FieldOptions{
+			Keys: cmd.FieldKeys,
+		}
 		err := cmd.ensureSchema(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "ensuring schema")
@@ -146,7 +152,7 @@ func (cmd *ImportCommand) ensureSchema(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error Creating Index: %s", err)
 	}
-	err = cmd.client.EnsureField(ctx, cmd.Index, cmd.Field)
+	err = cmd.client.EnsureFieldWithOptions(ctx, cmd.Index, cmd.Field, cmd.fieldOptions)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error Creating Field: %s", err)
 	}
diff --git a/http/client.go b/http/client.go
index 7cc941c16..b3fd0ea83 100644
--- a/http/client.go
+++ b/http/client.go
@@ -372,7 +372,11 @@ func (c *InternalClient) EnsureIndex(ctx context.Context, name string, options p
 }
 
 func (c *InternalClient) EnsureField(ctx context.Context, indexName string, fieldName string) error {
-	err := c.CreateField(ctx, indexName, fieldName)
+	return c.EnsureFieldWithOptions(ctx, indexName, fieldName, pilosa.FieldOptions{})
+}
+
+func (c *InternalClient) EnsureFieldWithOptions(ctx context.Context, indexName string, fieldName string, opt pilosa.FieldOptions) error {
+	err := c.CreateFieldWithOptions(ctx, indexName, fieldName, opt)
 	if err == nil || errors.Cause(err) == pilosa.ErrFieldExists {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -666,16 +670,35 @@ func (c *InternalClient) backupShardNode(ctx context.Context, index, field strin
 	return resp.Body, nil
 }
 
-// CreateField creates a new field on the server.
 func (c *InternalClient) CreateField(ctx context.Context, index, field string) error {
+	return c.CreateFieldWithOptions(ctx, index, field, pilosa.FieldOptions{})
+}
+
+// CreateField creates a new field on the server.
+func (c *InternalClient) CreateFieldWithOptions(ctx context.Context, index, field string, opt pilosa.FieldOptions) error {
 	if index == "" {
 		return pilosa.ErrIndexRequired
 	}
 
+	// convert pilosa.FieldOptions to fieldOptions
+	fieldOpt := fieldOptions{
+		Type: opt.Type,
+		Keys: &opt.Keys,
+	}
+	if fieldOpt.Type == "set" {
+		fieldOpt.CacheType = &opt.CacheType
+		fieldOpt.CacheSize = &opt.CacheSize
+	} else if fieldOpt.Type == "int" {
+		fieldOpt.Min = &opt.Min
+		fieldOpt.Max = &opt.Max
+	} else if fieldOpt.Type == "time" {
+		fieldOpt.TimeQuantum = &opt.TimeQuantum
+	}
+
 	// TODO: remove buf completely? (depends on whether importer needs to create specific field types)
 	// Encode query request.
 	buf, err := json.Marshal(&postFieldRequest{
-		//Options: opt,
+		Options: fieldOpt,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "marshaling")
diff --git a/test/pilosa.go b/test/pilosa.go
index f6ed907ef..e7111ad92 100644
--- a/test/pilosa.go
+++ b/test/pilosa.go
@@ -129,40 +129,40 @@ func (m *Command) Reopen() error {
 
 // MustCreateIndex uses this command's API to create an index and fails the test
 // if there is an error.
-func (m *Command) MustCreateIndex(t *testing.T, name string, opts pilosa.IndexOptions) *pilosa.Index {
+func (m *Command) MustCreateIndex(tb testing.TB, name string, opts pilosa.IndexOptions) *pilosa.Index {
 	idx, err := m.API.CreateIndex(context.Background(), name, opts)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("creating index: %v with options: %v, err: %v", name, opts, err)
+		tb.Fatalf("creating index: %v with options: %v, err: %v", name, opts, err)
 	}
 	return idx
 }
 
 // MustCreateField uses this command's API to create the field. The index must
 // already exist - it fails the test if there is an error.
-func (m *Command) MustCreateField(t *testing.T, index, field string, opts ...pilosa.FieldOption) *pilosa.Field {
+func (m *Command) MustCreateField(tb testing.TB, index, field string, opts ...pilosa.FieldOption) *pilosa.Field {
 	f, err := m.API.CreateField(context.Background(), index, field, opts...)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("creating field: %s in index: %s err: %v", field, index, err)
+		tb.Fatalf("creating field: %s in index: %s err: %v", field, index, err)
 	}
 	return f
 }
 
 // MustQuery uses this command's API to execute the given query request, failing
 // if Query returns a non-nil error, otherwise returning the QueryResponse.
-func (m *Command) MustQuery(t *testing.T, req *pilosa.QueryRequest) pilosa.QueryResponse {
+func (m *Command) MustQuery(tb testing.TB, req *pilosa.QueryRequest) pilosa.QueryResponse {
 	resp, err := m.API.Query(context.Background(), req)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("making query: %v, err: %v", req, err)
+		tb.Fatalf("making query: %v, err: %v", req, err)
 	}
 	return resp
 }
 
 // MustRecalculateCaches calls RecalculateCaches on the command's API, and fails
 // if there is an error.
-func (m *Command) MustRecalculateCaches(t *testing.T) {
+func (m *Command) MustRecalculateCaches(tb testing.TB) {
 	err := m.API.RecalculateCaches(context.Background())
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("recalcluating caches: %v", err)
+		tb.Fatalf("recalcluating caches: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -224,10 +224,10 @@ func (c Cluster) Close() error {
 }
 
 // MustNewCluster creates a new cluster
-func MustNewCluster(t *testing.T, size int, opts ...[]server.CommandOption) Cluster {
+func MustNewCluster(tb testing.TB, size int, opts ...[]server.CommandOption) Cluster {
 	c, err := newCluster(size, opts...)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("new cluster: %v", err)
+		tb.Fatalf("new cluster: %v", err)
 	}
 	return c
 }
@@ -271,10 +271,10 @@ func runCluster(size int, opts ...[]server.CommandOption) (Cluster, error) {
 }
 
 // MustRunCluster creates and starts a new cluster
-func MustRunCluster(t *testing.T, size int, opts ...[]server.CommandOption) Cluster {
+func MustRunCluster(tb testing.TB, size int, opts ...[]server.CommandOption) Cluster {
 	c, err := runCluster(size, opts...)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("run cluster: %v", err)
+		tb.Fatalf("run cluster: %v", err)
 	}
 	return c
 }