ImportUtil

Feature Description

CSV file can contain the following special columns:

Column Description

Class/Kind Specifies the kinds of imported objects in a form of the kind name.

SwProfile Computer object software profile. Values entered into this column have to correspond with the existing software profiles names. If the value is empty, the computer software profile is set to "All software is enabled" value.

NodeId Unique number of each object in the AM (can be displayed on the Objects tab or in the Objects lists window). If the NodeId column is used in the –keyfields parameter and there is no value in the NodeId column, new object will be created. If no object with specific NodeId exist in the database, a warning will be returned and the object won't be updated and no new object will be created.

This feature uses Object templates from AM for the import process.

Command Line Syntax

ImportUtil -input "name of the source CSV file" {-conn "connection string" | -server "name of database server" -db "database name"} [-class "object kind"] [-keyfields "identification column[,identification column ...]"] [-import] [-force]

Detailed Description of Parameters

Parameter	Description
-input	Specifies the name and path of the source CSV file (e.g. "D:\import\import.csv")
-conn -server -db	These parameters contain connection settings for the ALVAO database. You can use connection strings (e.g. -conn "Data source=.\sqlexpress;Initial Catalog=test;Integrated Security = True"), or enter a specific SQL server and database (e.g. -server ".\sqlexpress" -db "test"). If you use the -server and -db parameters, the system will connect to the database using the integrated Windows login. If you specify all parameters, only the -conn parameter will be used. The parameters -server and -db will be ignored.
-import	If used, the data are imported to the database; otherwise the system will perform only an import validity check.
-class	This parameter allows you to specify the object kind in the input data (e.g. -class "Monitor"). This parameter is required, if the source file does not contain either the "Kind", or the "Class" column. If the source file contains the column "Kind" and the parameter -class "object kind" is specified, the import will only involve those rows whose item in the "Kind" column is identical to that specified in the "object kind" parameter.
-keyfields	This parameter identifies and updates existing objects. The specified columns represent a unique identifier (e.g. -keyfields "Serial number, Model"). If the identifier does not correspond to any item in the database, a new object will be created in the Loaded objects folder. Note: If the NodeId column (-keyfields "NodeId") is used for identification, you can't use any other columns in the parameter. For more information see the NodeId column description.
-force	If used, the data will be imported to the database, ignoring all item errors. If not used, any error will cause the import process to fail and no records will be imported.
-scrapped	If used, this parameter will search and update retired assets during the import.
-datetimeformat	Date format in text strings (e.g. "dd/mm/yyyy"). If no parameter is entered, the format is recognized automatically upon conversion. You can find the detailed description of possible formats in the MSDN.

Note:

Below is a list of errors that can be ignored when using the -force parameter and that do not cause the entire import process to fail.

Errors included in the import results as skipped items:

Multiple objects with key values in the columns selected with the -keyfields parameter. For more information on the -keyfields parameter see above.
Missing template for an object embedded in a file. For more information, please refer to the -class parameter above.
Duplicate records in the source file.

Errors included in the import results as failed records:

Error while creating an object based on an object template, including computer set templates used to create an object of the "Computer" type kind.
Error while updating an object in the database.

Examples of use

ImportUtil.exe -input "import.csv" -server ".\sqlexpress" -db "AlvaoSample"

This command will validate the "import.csv" file format in the current folder and in relation to the "AlvaoSample" database located on a "local SQL server".

ImportUtil.exe -input "import.csv" -server ".\sqlexpress" -db "AlvaoSample" -import

This command will import the data from the "import.csv" file to the "AlvaoSample" database located on a "local SQL server". The AM will create corresponding new objects in the Loaded objects folder.

ImportUtil.exe -input "update_db.csv" -server ".\sqlexpress" -db "AlvaoSample" -import -keyfields "license plate number"

This command will update all objects whose "license plate number" item is identical to the value in the "update_db.csv" file in the "AlvaoSample" database located on a "local SQL server". The AM will update all properties of identified objects and create non-existing objects in the Loaded objects folder.

ImportUtil.exe -input "update_db.csv" -server ".\sqlexpress" -db "AlvaoSample" -import -keyfields "NodeId"

The command updates the objects property values according to the CSV file if their NodeId matches the values in the CSV file.

Note:

If you want to test the function of the above commands, you can use the sample CSV files import.csv and update_db.csv in the sample ALVAO database (see here).

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