MDM Data Manager Import

[Former Member]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone have experience using the MDM Data Manager to import updates / creates? The project I'm working on would like to have business users (non-tech people) be able to handle mass changes and creates. I believe giving them MDM Import Manager could lead to data integrity risks, as it is a much more powerful tool for importing. The Import section of the Data Manager reference guide does not provide enough details or examples on loading different types of tables. While testing I found that after doing a Data Manager import, it will spit out an excel file with records in RED that did not import, and records in BLUE that successfully imported.

Questions:

Are there volumes limitations?

Reference guide states it handles hierarchy loads, but I am unable to get this to work. How could child-parent relationships be added using Data Manager to import?

Additional thoughts on performance?

Regards,

Matt

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Are there volumes limitations?

Their is no limitation on the volume of data that can be loaded using Data manager, I have loaded 7 digit data, but the process consumes a lot of time when the voulme of data is high, since each matching record based on the key field.

Additional thoughts on performance?

You might be knowing that the Data Manager is not a very flexible tool when it comes to Importing, their are many limitations like Updating Null values, Null interpretetion and many more, it also takes a considerable amount of  time even to load small amounts of data in contrast to Import manager. i would suggest you to use the Import manager.

Note: All the users created in console, have the access and authorization to Import the data using Import manager, i.e., even if a user only has Read-Only access(as defined in Roles table in console), he can still use the Import manager to upload the data. You can avoid this by not installing the Import manager GUI on the users machine.

Hierarchy Upload using Data manager

Follow the below steps to upload hierarchy using the Import manager

1. Prepare an excel file with the Hierarchy format as shown below(Where Hierarchy is the Hierarchy Field name in the Main table) .

2. Select the Main Table.

3. Go to File-->Import-->Excel and select your excel file.

4. Select Add all values as shown below

5. Output will be as shown below.

Hope this helps

Rgds,

Prasad.

Message was edited by: Ganapathi Prasad Tuttagunta

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Prasad,

Thanks for the information. I realize that the Data Manager is much less flexible, and this is the reason I wanted to explore the options as some of the business users are not technically savy and could possibly have too much power using the Import Manager.

I was able to mimic your hierarchy import via the main table, however, is it possible to import directly to the hierarchy table? Is there specific documentation that explains importing format requirements for hierarchies as you mentioned above?

Thanks for the quick response.

Matt

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Matt,

Are there volume limitations?

No,but you can expect a slower response as compared to Import Manager.

Data Manager import is not powerful and lacks the robustness of Import manager.Moreover the re usability of maps is a big plus.

When you want to go for mass updates these can easily be handled in import manager and handling of erroneous data-set is easy in import manager.Business users will just have to connect to right source file(same template needs to be maintained) and just open corresponding map,if there be an issue support team can come in picture.

Coming to your question about Import Manager can potentially be a risk as it allows a wide array of functionalities, I would say yes it does but that is why we have approval mechanism and governance model.Once a record is imported it can be a part of approval workflow,if approved it can be saved and if rejected can be rolled back.

Auto import of data is also a viable option depending on data load one expects.

Coming to Hierarchy creation let me take an example.Say you have a new entry in Regions hierarchy,you can create that in Data Manager or even import manager.Just go under the right country node and create the region you require.Please note - Manually creation in Data Manager is good option when one has a small hierarchy with lesser nodes.

In all I would recommend you to use a tool which is specialist,weigh your options and choose an option which is scalable and robust.

Thanks,

Ravi

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi prasad

I am not able to see action tab.

after clicking import->excel, its showing some error, i am using mdm 7.1

Regards

Nitish Sharma

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Nitish,

Can you provide the screen shot of the error you are facing?

Rgds,

Prasad.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

i made same spreadsheet as above and tried to import, but got above error, after that there is no action tab is there, i got following screen

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Nitish,

This error is due to the field name mismatch between Spreadsheet and your main table Hierarchy field.. Please maintain the field name of the Hierarchy in the spread sheet exactly identical to the field name of the Hierarchy in the Main table

Please Note: When you Import through the Data manager, the field Names in the spread sheet should be exactly identical to the field names in your Table.

Rgds,

Prasad.

[Erdal_Şimşek]

Hi Matt,

pls use Import Server for that.

What you need to do is to setup some import ports, e.g.

• For Creations
• For Updates
• For Deletions

and then use a standard upload template (e.g. delimeted txt format or xml). You need the Import Manager to setup your import maps per port. The big advantage is that users do not have to deal with import manager and if any field in the template is provided with wrong data then import will not take place which reduces the risks to corrupt data. This assures some sort of quality.

If you need to upload Hierarchies then it most likely depends, i.e. you might not do it straight away.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Erdal