Performing the Advanced Import

Once you have an import file and the mapping instructions, you are ready to test the mapping instructions and do the actual import.

Testing the Mapping Instructions and Import File

To test the advanced import, you can set up the advanced import exactly as you would for performing the actual import, but select the Validation Only option. This performs the import processing but does not add or update any contacts. It is typically much faster than performing an actual import. Any errors that would be flagged during the actual import are written to the import status file. After the validation-only import, review the status file and correct any errors that occurred (see Status File).

Import Contacts

To use the advanced import feature, you must enter your advanced data quality features license in InterAction Administrator. For more information, see Specifying Your Application Collaboration/Advanced Data Quality Features License.

1. Log on to the Windows Client as a user with Data Quality permissions.

2. Choose Data Quality > Advanced Import.

   

3. On the Advanced Import dialog box, choose the file from which you want to import contacts.
4. Select First row of file is field headers, if applicable.

5. Choose the folder into which you want to import contacts.

   For more information on choosing the folder into which the contacts are imported, see Choosing the Folders into Which Contacts Are Imported.

6. Select the Import Instructions to use.
   • To create new import instructions, choose New.

   • To modify import instructions, select the instructions to change and choose Edit.

     For more information on import instructions, see Creating and Editing Advanced Import Mapping Instructions.

7. Choose the import options to use.

   For more information, see Checking for Recent Updates to Information in InterAction When Updating Contacts.

8. Specify the file name for the Status File.
9. When finished, choose OK.

Status File

InterAction creates a status file during every import, including when the validation-only option is used. This status file is used to record information about the advanced import including any information that could not be brought into InterAction.

At a minimum, it records the following:

• Import data file used
• Mapping instructions used
• Number of records added, rejected, and processed
• Total number of errors and warnings

The status file is a simple text file. You specify the location and file name of the status file during the import.

Any contact information that could not be imported is saved in the file. You can correct the rejected records directly in the status file and re-import. InterAction places a semicolon (;) in front of comments and warnings. To re-import the rejected rows, comment out any you do not want to import, correct the rows to fix the problems, then import directly from the status file. The import process ignores any rows preceded by a semicolon.

Note the following about the status file:

• InterAction creates a new file with each import; errors are not appended to the file.
• Truncated text is considered just a warning, not an error.