This video demonstrates how to use the Data Import feature. Duration 9 min.
Importing data is useful when initially setting up PPM Pro because it allows you to create and populate entities with data from your already existing systems. This saves set-up time and effort. In addition, you can also update all entity data (except tasks).
The Admin/Data Import page in PPM Pro lists the entities that can be imported and updated by PPM Pro administrators and members of the Organization group. Tasks are imported from the Tasks tab of any project.
The Import Data feature simultaneously creates an entity and imports its associated data. All entities except tasks follow the same basic steps for importing and updating data. See Task Import/Export for instructions for importing and exporting tasks; tasks cannot be updated.
Note that entity alerts (such as project owner alerts) are triggered by changes made data import (for update) and from the UI/ bulk editing.
Take a look at the Import Notes to see if there is useful information for the entity you are importing/updating.
PPM Pro supports importing from the latest two versions of MS Excel.
Before you can import/create an entity, you must prepare a .xlsx file with the data to import. There are two flavors of import file - one for entity creation, and one for updating an existing template. Note that carriage returns in spreadsheet cells are not supported.
Note that entity IDs are located on Admin/Web Services API; instance ID can be found by using the ID Inspector.
Note that carriage returns in spreadsheet cells are not supported.
Hint: The best way to determine what fields and formats are required for any particular entity is to initiate the import using an empty spreadsheet. The second page of the wizard is the mapping screen, which lists all the fields in the spreadsheet and indicates which are required (asterisk * next to field name), as well as formats such as ID vs Last, First, when applicable. For example, if you want to import assets, select Assets from Admin/Data Import and then click the Generate Template for New. Save the resulting .xls file (Note: when working with the Excel spreadsheet, only use one tab, or the import will have unpredictable results, such as a). Now click the Import button. In Step 1 of 2, select the xls file you just created. Leave all the other settings as they are. Click Next. Step 2 of 2, the mapping screen, appears. Gather the details you need to fill out your import file (cancel the current import when you are done).
Entity | Notes |
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General |
For all entities except tasks, PPM Pro accepts data in an .xlsx file from Microsoft Excel. Please note the following:
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Group Members | If you use the import file generator, please ignore the Permission Profile field. |
Financial Entries (Forecasts and Actuals) |
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Project |
% Complete Method
Allocation Units
Confidential Project
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Requests |
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Resource |
Resource Name
Immediate Supervisor
Timesheet Approver
Expense Approver
Can edit Calendar
Capacity Start Date
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Scoring Profile | Use the string value of the scoring profile |
Tasks |
Tasks are created by importing .mpp (Microsoft Project) files; tasks can be exported to XML. See Task Import/Export for more information. |
Task Schedules |
The Data Import feature for task schedules is used primarily for updating hours on existing task schedules. Note that before you import hours you'll need the Task Schedule ID for each schedule you want to update. If you need to import new task schedules, there are some different approaches:
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Note: It is strongly recommended that you use the Create Import File feature to prepare the data you will be importing. Note that carriage returns in spreadsheet cells are not supported.
You will see a modal similar to the one below. This example uses the Project Log entity; there might be additional options for other entities, as shown in the table below.
For some entities there are additional options; if you are not importing an entity listed in the table below, go to step 6.
Entity |
Instructions |
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Project |
Choose a default Department, Category, and Status, if desired. The default values are used if the column is not included in the spreadsheet, or if it is included but the values are null or invalid. If no default values are selected and no matching values are found in PPM Pro, the project will not be imported. |
Department |
Select a default Owner, Enterprise, Division and Status if desired. The default values are used if the column is not included in the spreadsheet, or if it is included but the values are null or invalid. If no default values are selected and no matching values are found in PPM Pro, the Department will not be imported. |
Team member |
Select the entity for which you are importing team members. If you wish to import team members for multiple entities, then select n/a and enter the parent entity type ID for each set of team members in the .xlsx file. Click here for a list of parent entity IDs. |
All entities except tasks can be updated. You update an entity using the same technique as importing an entity. The main difference is that your spreadsheet should only contain the fields you want to update. Note that carriage returns in spreadsheet cells are not supported.
For example, imagine that you want to update project data. You want to build a spreadsheet with Project ID, Project Status, Project Target Date, Project Complete Date, and a UDF called Project Total Spend Estimate. To create the spreadsheet, you can run an Org level list report on Projects that have the same fields as listed above, then export the report to excel. Then you would update the spreadsheet with new Status, Target Dates, Complete Dates where applicable, and new Total Spend estimates. Now you can use the spreadsheet to perform the update - only the fields you want to update are included in the file. Follow the same instructions for importing data, but choose Update from the Function dropdown list