Importing with a mapping file

You can import data through the Data Import utility by using a mapping file created in Data Import. You can use the mapping file on any platform. For more information, see Creating-mapping-files.

Specifying the -M or -m option in the command line determines whether you use a mapping file. (If you are copying the mapping file between different operating systems such as Windows to UNIX, make sure that the file is converted properly so that the operating system can read the file.)

To override specific settings saved in the mapping file, you can use additional options. In this way, you can use the data mappings you created for one data file and destination form for imports with a different data file and form combination.

Importing without a mapping file

Importing without a mapping refers to running the Data Import command-line utility with no mapping definition to instruct the system how to map fields.

When importing without a mapping file, use AR Export (.arx ) and AR XML (.xml ) file formats. In these file formats, field values are mapped by matching field IDs, which are both included in the file. For CSV files, field values are mapped by matching the field labels (if present in the file) to the field names (database names of the fields) retrieved from the server. When a browser exports data into a CSV file, the field labels and the field names are not necessarily the same. Only fields with names and labels that match are auto-mapped. Consequently, if CSV files do not include field labels, the field values cannot be mapped.

Without a mapping file, include the server name, form name, and data file name in the command line. Mappings are built by querying the server and the data file.