FAQs: Import/Export

Why did the last line on the import file fail to import?

The import file should include a blank line to conclude the set of lines to be imported. If this blank line does not exist, the last line on the import file will not import.

Why is the group data I imported not visible in the locator?

Some form names associated with activity information or group data have one or more required fields in order for the activity or group to be visible in the locator. Please refer to the Required_Fields tab of the build report for data dictionary information for these fields. Please ensure these fields are included for each activity or group member you are creating through import, or your other imported values will not be visible in the locator and become trapped data.

How do I clear trapped data?

To troubleshoot trapped data:

In a locator, go to the Organizer section with the trapped data.
Right-click a field there.
Select Field Info, and make note of the Area number.
Select Validate and Repair from the Tools menu.
Change the Records to Show option to Bad input records.
Change the Problems to Find option to only Records with missing interesting field checked.
Press Load.
In the ASFL Key column, look for your area number with the problem.
Scroll to the right to the Missing Int Field column where it shows the Area, Screen, and Field numbers.
Close Validate and Repair, and navigate back to the Organizer section with the trapped data.
Required fields are often notated with bold text and/or frequently contain the text that appears in navigation. Right-click this field, select Field Info, and verify that its Area, Screen, and Field are the numbers from Validate and Repair.
Right-click that field and select Data Dictionary to get the form and field name used for import.
Search your recently imported file(s) to determine what activity number was used to import the trapped data.
Create a new blank import file with the M flag and use the data dictionary from the required field and activity number from the trapped data. You can now delete the entire activity from inside the locator normally by clicking the minus sign by that activity in the navigation sidebar.

Another method to clear trapped data uses an import file with the H flag. Before importing, the H flag will create a list of all form names present on the import file and delete from the locator any data from fields listed under those form names on the Organizer tab of the build report.

To delete only data from a single form:

Make sure the import file only contains lines with that form name.
Export the locator.
Filter the export file to the lines with that form name that contain the desired activity number(s).
Copy those lines to an import file. Import into the locator using an H flag to reinput the desired data while clearing the trapped data.

Import/Export/import_faqs.htm/TY2021

Last Modified: 02/23/2021

Last System Build: 10/18/2022