Importing CIs from CSV files

If your CI data is stored elsewhere, you can use comma-separated values (CSV) files to import the CIs and CI relationships into FootPrints where your users can access them and link to them.

In FootPrints, you have two options to import Boolean fields:

• Yes—the check box is selected
• No—the check box is cleared

However, to import Boolean fields using a CSV file, you must specify the values in the following format:

• TRUE for Yes value of the field
• FALSE for No value of the field.

The instructions below explain how to import CIs.

For more information about importing CI relationships, see Importing CI relationships from CSV files.

To import CIs

1. Click the Administration tab.
2. In the System Management section, click Import.
   The Task Scheduler page appears, showing a list of scheduled tasks and their status. Tasks with a Status of “Completed” were performed successfully; tasks with a Status of “Completed with Errors” failed.
3. Click New Task and select Import Task > Configuration Items.
   The Import CI page appears, showing the Source Type pane.
4. In the Source Type field, select Text (CSV).
5. In the left pane, click Source Configuration.
   The Source Configuration pane appears.
6. Complete the fields:
   
   1. In the File Location field, select the location.
      Options are Local Directory, Network Server, and Web.
   2. In the Data Encoding field, select the encoding method.
      Options are Server default and UTF-8.
   3. Identify the source file:
      • If you selected Local Directory in the File Location field, in the Upload Source File field, click Browse to select the location of the source file. Click Open. A progress message appears, followed by a confirmation message. Click OK.
      • If you selected Network Server in the File Location field, in the URI for Source File field, enter the URI and click Search Network to verify it. If there is no drive mapped to a location on another server, enter the UNC path as \\<Server Name>\<Location on Server of csv file>\<File name>.
      • If you selected Web in the File Location field, in the URL for Source File field, enter the URL and click Search Web to verify it.
7. In the left pane, click Data Destination.
   The Data Destination pane appears.
8. Complete the fields:
   
   1. In the Import into CMDB field, select the CMDB where you want to import the CIs.
   2. (Optional) To search existing contacts for matches and link the imported CIs to them:
      1. Select Link imported CIs to matching entries in Address Book.
      2. In the Address Book field, select from the address books associated with the selected CMDB.
      3. In the Contact Type field, select the appropriate contact item.
9. In the left pane, click Map Fields.
   The Map Fields pane appears.
10. Complete the fields:
    
    1. (Optional) If the data file has a header row, select My data file has a header row.
    2. Do one of the following:
       • If you did not select to link the imported CIs to an address book, proceed to step c.

       • If you selected to link the imported CIs to an address book, the Link to Address Book section appears. Complete the fields:

         1. In the Map data source file field, select the source field that you want to map.
         2. In the To this Address Book field, select the target field in the Address Book.
    3. In the Map CI Type Rules section:
       
       1. In the Default CI Type field, select from the CI types defined for the selected CMDB and click Add.
       2. If you want to customize the import process, perform steps iii through vi. If you want to use the default import process, continue with step 10e.
          With the default process, all CIs are assigned the default CI type.
       3. In the If Column field, select a condition.
       4. In the Contains Text field, type the text to match.
       5. In the Set CI Type as field, select the CI type that will be assigned to the imported records.
       6. Click Update.
       7. Repeat steps i through vi to add as many rules as you need.
    4. In the Map Attributes section:
       
       1. Click Add.
       2. Select values for Attribute and Source Field. You must map at least one attribute.
          The available values are based on the selections already made on this page. The Attribute Type field is read-only.
       3. In the Status for all CIs section, in the Status field, select the initial status for the uploaded CIs.
       4. (Optional) To update existing CIs, select Update the Status for Existing CIs.
       5. In the Unique Key section, select the fields in the Source Columns list that are used as unique keys and move them to the Unique Key list.
11. In the left pane, click Schedule Task.
    The Schedule Task pane appears.

12. Complete the fields:

    1. In the Task Name field, enter a specific name for this task.

    2. (Optional) In the Notes field, enter any useful information about this task.

    3. (Optional) In the Notify by Email field, enter the email addresses of anyone who should be notified when this task runs.

       You can also enter an agent's user name to send notification to the agent's primary email address. Separate multiple user names and email addresses with semicolons. Notification is sent about import outcome and includes result, task name, date, and so on, including the number of records that were rejected, created, updated, and unchanged.

    4. (Optional) Select whether to run this task immediately or at a specific time, and whether and when to run it again.

       If you do not select any settings, the task will only run manually. For more information, see Scheduling tasks.
13. Click Schedule Task.
    Your selections are validated by the system. If no errors are found, the Task Schedule page appears. Local files that won't change between scheduling and running are validated immediately. Web and network server files are validated at run-time. Next Run Time is the next or first time a task will be run.

Next step

To import the relationships for these CIs, follow the instructions provided in Importing CI relationships from CSV files.

Related topics

Viewing task logs

Importing CIs from SQL databases

Importing CIs from BMC Client Management

Importing CI relationships from BMC Client Management

Importing CI relationships from SQL databases

Working with mappings