Running a data import

Permissions for importing data

To import data into a form, you must have Change permissions for the fields to which you want to import data. For system fields such as Create-date, you must be the administrator or sub-administrator of the form.

To import data

1. Launch the Data Import Tool, located in the ARSystemInstallationDirectory/ARSystem/dataimporttool folder. 
   The following screenshot shows the Data Import Tool:
   
2. On the Mapping tab, click the Create new mapping icon .
   Alternatively, from the File menu, select New Mapping.
3. In the Source Data File field, select a data file to import data.
   If you are using a file in ASCII format, use the Field Separator field to specify the characters that you are using as a separator. 
4. In the Target Server field, select a server to which you have logged in to.
5. In the Target Form Name field, select a form to which you want to import data.
6. In the Field Value Mapping panel:
   • You must manually define the field mapping if the source form and target form are different. 
   • You can use Auto Map, if the field name and field IDs on the source and target form are identical.
7. (Optional) Use the Fallback Mapping panel to resolve any issue such as, importing string data in an integer field, that might occur during field mapping.
8. Click Import .

When the data import is complete, the following confirmation dialog is displayed and the import log is updated:

• Use the Save icon to save the mapping file for future use.
• If errors occur, the type of messages you receive depends on what you enter in the Bad Records field, as described in Defining Data Import preferences. 

You can stop an import before it ends. You are prompted to copy unprocessed records to the log. There must be enough disk space in the import log partition to copy the records.

Using a saved mapping file

If you regularly perform a particular import, saving the mapping saves time and reduces errors because you load the mapping file instead of reentering the mapping values. When you save a mapping, this import information is saved:

• The form name
• The server that contains the form
• The data file name
• Mappings and fallback mappings
• Options

Mapping files have an .armx extension. You can use .arm files from previous AR System releases, but if you modify them, they are saved with an .armx extension. 

Data Import reads and writes mappings in PC format, with CR LF at the end of each line.

To load a saved mapping file

1. Select File > Open Mapping.
2. Select the mapping file.
3. Click Open.
   The mapping is displayed under a tab. The mapping file name appears on the tab.