Data creation and updates using a dataload job
BMC provides out-of-the-box dataload spreadsheets that are used as a source of data to run a dataload job. The data from these spreadsheets is used to create new records and update the pre-existing records on the target forms. Each spreadsheet is organized into tabs and each tab is mapped to an intermediate form, also known as staging form. You can access and download these spreadsheets from the Spreadsheet Management window. For more information about dataload spreadsheets, see Understanding the dataload spreadsheets and to locate and download spreadsheets, see Managing spreadsheets.
BMC provides out-of-the-box job templates, called BMC Templates, that contain certain sets of these spreadsheets. For information about these job templates, see Out-of-the-box job templates. When you run a dataload job using these job templates, the data from these templates is loaded on the corresponding staging forms, validated, and then promoted to the respective target forms.
Dataload process
The dataload job process is completed in these steps:
- Load step: The data from the spreadsheet tabs is loaded on the corresponding staging forms.
- Validate step: The data from the staging forms is validated for any errors.
Promote step: All valid records from the staging forms are pushed to their respective target forms within the BMC Remedy ITSM applications.
In the Promote step, either new records are created or existing records are updated on the target forms.
Data creation and updates on the target forms
This section describes how new records are created or how existing records are updated on the target forms when you run a job.
Data creation
When you create and run a dataload job for the first time, the system uses the data from a job template to create new records on the target form or forms.
Data updates
The Data Management supports data updates only for CTM:LoadPeople form.
If you try to update the data on the forms for which data update is not supported:
- For certain forms, the system overwrites the data and replaces the earlier field values with the values provided in the update. If you want to update data on such forms, you must provide values for all the form fields irrespective of whether you want to update those fields.
- For certain forms listed in table, the data is only created and not updated. These forms are marked by a Create Only flag, which is displayed in the Steps panel of a job record when the Validate and Promote steps are created for a job.
Forms marked by a Create Only flag
(Click the image to expand it.)
Best Practices
- BMC recommends that you use the UDM utility to create new records and not update records.
- Even though creating and updating data depends on how you configure your application preferences for all jobs, BMC recommends that you do not change the settings for the Create Only field in the Application Preferences form when you are using the job templates.
- If you want to customize your job templates using the existing template, BMC recommends that you ensure that you go through the list of Create Only forms and the settings for existing template.
List of Create Only forms
The following forms are marked by the Create Only flag for which data is only created and not updated:
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