How to perform mass update in Maximo records?

Summary

When you need to perform bulk Data Updates in Maximo, most of times you will be wondering how to perform a SQL update on a table to mass update your records.

Data updates or changes are relatively common in any database, and IBM Maximo is no exception. Often these data updates require you to update fields in bulk on records meeting a certain set of criteria. In some cases, you can perform data updates using SQL by interfacing with the database directly, though this should be handled with caution, particularly if you are unfamiliar with Maximo's business rules and how different records interact with each other.

Escalations are one of the most common (and easiest) way we use to automate actions in Maximo.
An escalation is a mechanism to evaluate records and take actions when a record reaches a defined condition.

Let's imagine that you need to perform a mass update to the Job Plans on the field that is "Include Tasks in Schedule" so that it UNCHECKS that box on all ACTIVE job Plans. (All you want is to UNCHECK the "Include Tasks in Schedule" box on all Job Plans that are active)

The following steps will help you to automate that mass update using Actions and Escalation, to UNCHECK the "Include Tasks in Schedule" box on all Job Plans that are active

Step 1 - In your bulk data update is creating one Action for each field you need to update. Navigate to the Actions app (System Configuration, Platform Configuration, Actions) and create a new Action record.

Object: The Maximo Object or Database Table you want to update
Type: Set Value
Value: 0
Parameter/Attribute: INCTASKINSCHED

Step 2 - In this process is to create an Escalation, which is the component that applies your Action(s) and where you define the condition logic to restrict the updates. To start, navigate to the Escalations app (System Configuration, Platform Configuration, Escalations) and create a new Escalation Record. Set the Condition field to match the records you are trying to modify.

Set the Applies to field to "JOBPLAN"
In the Condition field you can set: STATUS = 'ACTIVE'
Set the desired frequency on the Schedule field.

Once the Condition field is set, add a new row to the Escalation Points table and then add your new added Action to the Actions table.

Once that is done you just need to save the Escalation and Activate it using the Activate/Deactivate Escalation option under More Actions or the Select Action menu.

This way, when the escalation runs, it will update INCTASKINSCHED field to 0 in all records in JOBPLAN table that have the Status='ACTIVE'.