Creating import files

Create a separate spreadsheet for each object that you are importing.

About this task

If you create a separate spreadsheet for each source object it is easier to import data from a flat file and organize it within an object hierarchy. You must structure the data in the spreadsheet in the format required by the integration framework. The example in this procedure uses the EXTSYS1 external system, a predefined component provided with the integration framework. You can configure a different external system in the External Systems application.

Procedure

  1. Specify the header information in the first row. This information is required, must be in the first row, and must be in the format <External system>,<Enterprise service>,<Action>,<Language>
    To import new records into the Asset object structure, the first row header information is EXTSYS1, MXASSETInterface,Add,EN.
    All of the values are required except the action value. Include the Add action only when you are importing new records so that a new record is automatically created. When you are updating existing records, do not include the Add action in the header information.
  2. Specify column headings in the second row that match the aliases specified for the object structure.
    Open MXASSET in the Object Structure application and use the Add Modify Alias action if you want to check the aliases to enter in the spreadsheet.
  3. Specify data to import in the third row and all subsequent rows.
  4. Save the spreadsheet.
  5. Import the data to a CSV file.
  6. Open the CSV file in a text editor to correct any formatting errors that occurred when you converted the data to a CSV file:
    1. If there are quote marks surrounding the content of the first row, delete the quote marks.
    2. If there are additional commas between values in the first or second row, delete them.
      Each value must be separated by just one comma.
    3. Check for unintended spaces between the column headers in the second row and remove any that you find.

What to do next

Create additional spreadsheets for the other objects in the MXASSET object structure.