Import Wizard

Overview

The Import Wizard menu in Paradigm is a powerful tool that will help you import data or information saved or recorded in another file or application to Paradigm. This is very helpful in speeding up the process of data migration. Due to the complexity of this feature, we strongly advise that you seek advice from the Silverband Support Team prior to using this part of the system.

Complexity: expert


WARNING:

The Import Wizard is a complex feature with the potential to perform high-impact updates to data records. For this reason, we strongly advise that you seek advice from the Silverband Support Team prior to using this part of Paradigm.

Workflow

Before you start following the instructions below, your data source file to be uploaded should meet the following requirements:

  • File must be in CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv) format

  • All fields in your source file must be present in any future import attempts

  • All fields in the source file must be in the exact same order (correctly structured: headers are consistent or the same as the fields in Paradigm)

  • All fields must have a value (with the exception of census date, min/max participants)


 

Create a New Import Profile

 

NOTE:

The instructions below assume that your data source files have met all the requirements mentioned above.

 

step 1 Upload the data source file


1, 2 Choose System > Import Wizard menus on the side.

3 On the Import Wizard page, click the NEW PROFILE button.

 

4 Enter the required information on the fields which are highlighted in RED (as shown in the screenshot below).

1. Import Name – the name that describes the import profile, what it will do, e.g. “Update Course Enrolment Status”

2. Description – you have the option to copy the Import Name to this field.

3. Import Type – you can set this as “csv

4. File Description – set this the same as the Import Type as “csv

5. Upload File – click the Browse button to upload the file you have prepared, see the section above for the requirements

 

NOTE:

The fields Import Type and File Description must match exactly. Once the profile has been saved, changes to these fields are not possible, and if they are not the same, the profile will not work.

Additional field validations added:

  • Import Type - maximum field length set to 20 characters

  • Import Type and File Description fields - marked as read-only on existing import profile meaning the field can only be edited once when first creating an import profile

 

5 Put a checkmark on the Import Multiple Rows field as required.

6 After you have filled out the required fields and uploaded the file, click the UPLOAD FILE button to proceed to the mapping stage.

 

 

step 2 Map Source Data Fields to Paradigm Fields


1 After uploading the data source file from the step 1 instructions, click the Select Object dropdown menu to choose the exact group data/table in Paradigm that will match your source file. e.g. choose Program if the data that you want to import are courses data, Student if the source file contains student data or information, etc.

 

2 After selecting an object, proceed with the data mapping.

 

3 After you’ve mapped all the fields, click the SAVE COLUMN BINDINGS button to proceed to the next step.

 

 

step 3 Match External Values to Paradigm Values


1 After mapping the fields to match with the Paradigm fields, some values of the fields being mapped needs also to be matched with Paradigm values. e.g. the languages spoken at home, in your source file it has a value of “Tagalog” while in Paradigm, it should be “Filipino”; another example would be from Course Level, some source value would be entered as “UNDERGRAD” while in Paradigm it’s “Undergraduate”.

 

2 After mapping all the values, click the SAVE MAPPING button to proceed to the next step.

 

 

step 4 Save Import and Process Files


1 In the EXISTING RECORD SEARCH section, match the primary keys from your source file to Paradigm’s equivalent primary key. Start with clicking the (plus sign), choose the Paradigm field, select the Import File name (your data source file), and the Import File field. By setting this section, Paradigm will search and compare the records based on the primary keys you’ve set and will take action based on how you want the system to handle matching records (see step 2 instructions below).

 

OPTIONAL Steps


2 Click the to add more primary keys to match

3 Click the Add Group button to add another primary key found in another data table or group

4 Change the AND or OR logical operator as required (depending on how you want the primary keys to behave), given that you have added more than one or more primary keys or more than one group.


2 After setting up the primary keys proceed to the DATA MAPPING section.

Refer to the description of each section and options below:

How do you want to handle matching records in Paradigm?

Do not Import (Only Create) – only create or add a new record when a matching record cannot be found in Paradigm, it won’t edit or update existing records if it has found one

Update Records (Create and Update) – ( Commonly used option) when a matching record is found, the system will update the record, and when it’s not found, the system will add or create a new one

Only Update Records – only update the system when a matching record is found, it won’t create a new record if it can’t find any matching records in Paradigm

 

Run import in debug Mode (Show query output to find existing records, but disable save)

Enable Debug Mode

 


This button will take you back to the page where you are allowed to change the field mappings. In this workflow section, it’s under the step 3 section.

The save import button will save your import profile. This will serve as your reference when you will import the same data group in the future.

This button will do the import of your file into Paradigm. After it finishes, you will get a new section with success messages and error messages, and you can download either or both files (as shown in the screenshot below).

 

 

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Load an Existing Import Profile

 

step 1 Choose an Existing Import Profile


1, 2 Choose System > Import Wizard menus on the side.

3 On the Import Wizard page, select the Import Profile Id that you want to use.

4 Click the LOAD PROFILE button.

 

5 After clicking the LOAD PROFILE button, it will auto-populate the fields, settings or information you’ve set in your last import. You have the option to LOAD LAST IMPORT RUN or UPLOAD FILE. In the above section of the page, you also have the option to DOWNLOAD ERROR FILES, LOAD ERROR LOG, and DELETE PROFILE.

 

 

6 Select either of these two buttons or options:

  • The LOAD LAST IMPORT RUN will let you load all the data, information, field mappings, settings, and technically everything that you’ve set in your last import activity. This is very useful if you want to correct or change some of the details you’ve set from your previous run.

  • The UPLOAD FILE button will let you upload a new data source file and use the same format and structure as your selected import profile.

 

7 After selecting either the LOAD LAST IMPORT RUN or the UPLOAD FILE button, refer to the instructions in the above workflow: Create a New Import Profile starting from step 2 Map Source Data Fields to Paradigm Fields section for the rest of the instructions on how to import a file.

 

 

 

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Related Pages

 

 

 

 

Overview | Assumptions | Key Terms and Concepts | Implications | Workflow | Video | Related Pages | Further Reading