Edge Import - Create Data Import Configuration

A configuration is a template that describes the data you want to import and how the system should interpret, validate, and import the data. A configuration can be used when importing data or for a feed.

To create a new data import configuration, go to Admin > Tools > Edge > Imports and Feeds. Select the Configurations panel. Then, select the New Configuration button. This opens the New Configuration flyout, which guides you through a multi-step process to create a new configuration.

PERMISSION NAME PERMISSION DESCRIPTION CATEGORY
Access Edge Import Grants access to the Edge Import tool, which enables administrators to load data into their portal. This permission cannot be constrained. This is an administrator permission. Edge Import
Create/Update Configurations Grants ability to create and update Edge Import configurations. This permission cannot be constrained. This is an administrator permission. Edge Import

Edge Import Migration Guides

  • Core Loads Migration - Select this link to download the Edge Import Core Loads Migration Guide.
    • Important: For customers using the following Data Load Wizard features that are not available in Edge Import, we do not recommend migration of Inbound Data Feed (IDF) for Users and OUs from Data Load Wizard to Edge Import at this time:
      • Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (SPII) fields - Date of Birth/SSN
    • Customers using the above features will be informed when these features are available in Edge Import and will be given at least three months to deprecate.

Edge Import Guides

Upload Step

In this step, you will upload a file is used to create your configuration.

  1. Category and Type - From this drop-down menu, select the data type that applies to the configuration you are creating. This drop-down only includes the data import types for which the administrators has permission to access. For example, the Employee Salary load type only appears if the administrator has the Load Employee Salary permission.
  2. Select File - In this field, upload a file that contains the data headers that you will use for data imports. You can do this by dragging and dropping a file in to the field or by selecting the Pick a File button to browse for and select a file from your computer. See the File Format Information section below for additional information.
  3. Encryption Key - From this drop-down, select the appropriate encryption key that corresponds with the selected file. This field is only available after a file is selected, and it is only available if a .PGP file is selected. This field is not available if a non-PGP encrypted file is selected. The encryption key selection is not actually saved within the configuration, and the key must be selected when initiating a data load. This is because PGP keys expire every 180 days and should be selected with each data load to ensure accuracy. This also allows the data load configuration to be used with PGP encrypted files as well as non-encrypted files.
  4. Select the Upload button.

Options Step

In this step, you will set the processing options that help the system properly process your data imports.

  1. In the General Questions section, answer the following questions:
    1. When an Excel file has multiple sheets, which one should we use? - This question is only active if you uploaded an Excel file. Only one worksheet can be uploaded, so select the worksheet that contains the data that should be used to create your configuration. The drop-down contains all of the worksheets that exist within the file that you uploaded in the Upload step.
    2. Does your file have headers? - Edge Import can use the first row of the uploaded file as headers.
      1. Select Yes if the first row of your file contains headings. On the Mapping step, the Column Header column displays column titles from the first row of your uploaded file.
      2. Select No if the first row of your file contains data. On the Mapping step, the Column Header column displays the first row of data from your uploaded file. Best Practice: If your uploaded file does not have headers, it is recommended that there is data in the first row of all columns to make it easier to map your file to fields in the system.
    3. What should we do with blank values? - This option determines what action Edge Import takes if an optional field has a blank value in the uploaded file. For example, if an Address column is included in the uploaded file, and it is mapped to the optional Address field in the system, then what action should Edge Import take if the Address column is not populated for a user in the uploaded file? The following options are available:
      1. Apply Default Value - Select this option if you want Edge Import to update the existing record in the system with the default value for that field. The default values for standard system fields are provided in the template guide for the import type.
      2. Do nothing - Select this option if you do not want Edge Import to update the values in the system when a blank value is provided in the uploaded file.

      See the Blank Value Examples section below for additional information.

      Note: When records are created via Edge Import, the import process applies default values for all mapped or unmapped fields associated with the record unless a value is provided in the imported file.

  2. In the Format Questions section, answer the following questions:
    1. How are your dates ordered? - Edge Import supports all date formats. However, the system must know how the dates are ordered. From the drop-down menu, select how dates are ordered in your data files. The following options are available:
      1. Month first - Select this option if the month appears first in your dates (e.g., MM.DD.YYYY, MM-DD-YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY).
      2. Date first - Select this option if the date appears first in your dates (e.g., DD.MM.YYYY, DD-MM-YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY).
      3. Year first - Select this option if the year appears first in your dates (e.g., YYYY.MM.DD, YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY/MM/DD). If this option is selected, the year must be four digits.

      Best Practice: The year value should always be four digits (YYYY). If the year is provided as two digits (YY), the system processes the year as 19YY. For example, 01.01.30 is loaded as 01.01.1930.

    2. How are your numbers formatted? - Edge Import supports number formats from all cultures. However, the system must know how the numbers are formatted. From the drop-down menu, select how numbers are formatted in your data files. The following options are available:
      1. Decimals are separated with a dot "." (e.g., 1,234.56 or 1234.56)
      2. Decimals are separated with a comma "," (e.g., 1 234,56 or 1234,56)
      3. Decimals are separated with a comma "," AND thousands are grouped with a dot "." (e.g., 1.234,56)

      Note: The limit on the number of digits that are allowed following the decimal and the logic used when additional decimal places are provided (e.g., are additional decimals rounded up or truncated) is dependent on the load type.

Mapping Step

In this step, you will map the data columns in your uploaded file to the system fields. A data field in the source file can only be mapped to one system field.

The system reviews the uploaded file and may automatically match some fields. To match a data column with a system field, select the drop-down in the Map To Field column and select the appropriate system field. An asterisk displays next to a system field that must be mapped to a column in your file.

  1. The following information is displayed in the table:
    1. Status - This indicates whether the column is mapped to a system field.
    2. Column Header - This displays the column titles from the first row of your uploaded file.
    3. Map To Field - This displays the system field to which the data column is mapped. You can select the drop-down to set or modify the mapping.
    4. Description - This displays the description of the selected system field. If no system field is selected in the Map To Field column, then this field is empty.
  2. By default, all column headers from your file are displayed in the table. To filter which columns are displayed in the table, select the drop-down menu above the table.
  3. If a system field is not matched to a data column from your file, the system field appears in the Unmatched Fields section. By default, only required unmatched fields are displayed in the Unmatched Fields section. To filter which fields are displayed in this section, select the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner of the page.

Note: If the administrator does not have permission to view a field, then that field is not available for mapping.

Save Step

In this step, you will provide a name for the configuration and save it for future use.

  1. Enter a unique name for your configuration, up to 50 characters. This name should clearly indicate its purpose so that it is clear to all administrators when the configuration should be used.
  2. Select the Save button. This opens the Configuration Details page where you can view the details of the configuration and initiate a new data load. See Edge Import - Configuration Details Page.

If the configuration's Options and Mapping settings match an existing configuration, then you are given the following options:

  1. Use an existing saved configuration - this is recommended to reduce duplicate configurations
  2. Create a duplicate configuration

Blank Value Examples

This table shows how the system is updated depending on what option is selected for the "What should we do with blank values" setting and the value in the uploaded file.

Preference Selected Value in File Value in System System-defined Default Value Result
Apply Default Value Value 1 Blank Blank Value 1
Value 2 Value 1 Blank Value 2
Blank Value 2 Blank Blank
Value 1 Blank Value 3 Value 1
Value 2 Value 1 Value 3 Value 2
Blank Value 2 Value 3 Value 3
Do Nothing Value 1 Blank Blank Value 1
Value 2 Value 1 Blank Value 2
Blank Value 2 Blank Value 2
Value 1 Blank Value 3 Value 1
Value 2 Value 1 Value 3 Value 2
Blank Value 2 Value 3 Value 2

Multiple Checkbox Custom Field Example

For multiple checkbox custom fields, values in the file override values in the system; they do not append them. In order to set multiple values for a multiple checkbox custom field, the file must include all appropriate values.

Supported Custom Field Types

The following custom field types are not supported by Edge Import:

  • Branched Drop-down
  • Conditional Numeric Field
  • Hierarchy

File Format Information

The following file types are supported:

File Type Details
Text File
  • File name is flexible
  • File extension: .CSV or .TXT
  • Columns names are flexible
  • One row equals one record
  • Supported Delimiter: TAB, COMMA or PIPE
  • File should be UTF-8 encoded - Note: When using accented or umlaut characters in data feeds, files should be UTF-8 encoded with BOM (Byte Order Mark) to ensure the characters display properly in the system.
Excel File
  • File name is flexible
  • File extension: .XLS or .XLSX
  • Columns names are flexible
  • One row equals one record
  • Only one worksheet can be loaded at a time

PGP and GPG encrypted files are supported for data feeds and one-time loads. It is important to note that when encrypted data is loaded, the data in the load report is also encrypted. It is recommended to keep a copy of the original plain text file before encryption from your source data system.

Edge Import supports text and Excel files with and without column headers. The first row in the file should be the header with column names. As a best practice, use column headers to make the configuration and maintenance process more user-friendly and less vulnerable to errors.