Open Data Import Centre

The Open Data Import Centre (ODIC) can be used to import network data from several different data sources:

Data Source	Description
MapInfo Tab File (.tab)	MapInfo Tab File format. This option is only available if using MapXtreme as the current map control in the GeoPlan Window.
GeoPlan Layer	GIS data currently loaded as an additional layer on the GeoPlan.
CSV	A text file with the fields separated by commas.
Tab Separated Data	A text file with the fields separated by TAB characters.
Access Database	An Access (.mdb) database. Note: Access tables and Access queries can be imported into InfoAsset Manager.
Oracle	Use this option to import from Oracle databases. Note: The minimum version of Oracle supported for import without spatial data is Oracle 8i. To import spatial data a minimum version of Oracle 9.2 is required.
SQL server	Use this option to import from SQL server databases. Note: The Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server must be installed in order to import from SQL Server databases.
GeoDatabase	A format for storing GIS data developed by ESRI. Use this option to import data from GeoDatabases. This option is also used to import ESRI shapefiles. Note: This option requires a licensed copy of ArcGIS™ installed on the computer on which the import is being performed.
Raw Shape File	Data in the ESRI shapefile format. Imports shape files directly instead of using any map control.
XML	A text file formatted in the eXtensible Markup Language.
File GeoDatabase	A format for storing GIS data developed by ESRI. Use this option to import data from File GeoDatabases. This option imports ESRI shapefile (SHP) folders. Note: This option is only available for 64 bit versions of InfoAsset Manager.

Data can be imported into an existing network. Data is imported for one network object type at a time.

To import network data using the Open Data Import Centre

1. Open the network to be updated.
2. Select ImportOpen Data Import Centre from the Network menu. This displays the Open Data Import Centre dialog.
3. Select the table to be imported into. Only data from one object type at a time can be imported.
4. If the selected object has got related subtable/ array data (e.g. hyperlinks) that are to be imported, select the desired subtable/ array data in the Subtable combo box, otherwise leave it blank.
5. Select the data source. The possible options are listed at the top of this topic.
6. If you selected a file based data source, choose the file using the Browse button, or simply enter the filename and path in the File box. For some data types, you need to select the feature type to import from the dropdown list in the Feature box.
7. To import images and other attachments, select the Import Images option and select the folder containing the attachments to be imported using the Browse button, or simply enter the filename and path in the Image Folder box. See Importing Attachments for further details on how to use this option.
8. The Asset name group field is used to generate asset name group data when importing nodes or pipes (automatic name generation must be set up to use this option). See the Open Data Import Centre - Advanced Features topic for details on how to use this option.
9. Decide whether to import flags from the external data source. You can also select flags to be used to mark imported data without flags, and fields set to default values specified in the Assignment Grid.
10. You may want to specify a script file. Scripts can be used to refine the import process. This is an advanced option. Contact us for further information.
11. Specify the units used in the external data. They can be InfoAsset Manager Native units, User units, or a custom definition for this import.
12. In the Assignment Grid, choose how external data fields map onto fields in the database and specify default values if required.
13. If the names of external fields match those used when exporting from InfoAsset Manager, you can use the Auto-Map Fields button to link up as many fields as possible. The Clear Assignments button clears current field mappings.
14. Link up fields manually using the dropdown lists.
15. If you have chosen Custom units, set the units used for each field in the imported data.
16. Choose updating options. The option chosen is irrelevant when importing into a blank network. Be careful using the Overwrite option when importing into a network that already contains objects of this type.
17. Start the import by clicking Import.
18. Repeat above steps for every object type you want to import.
19. Click Exit when you have finished.

Note: When updating Collection Network pipe objects using Object ID, the Link Suffix field of the object is used (in addition to the connected node IDs), to check for duplicate pipes. If connected node IDs match those of an existing pipe, but a link suffix is not provided, the Open Data Import Centre will create a new pipe object by incrementing the link suffix.

Similarly for Manhole Survey objects, if a Survey Index is not provided, new objects will be created by incrementing the survey index.

Full details of all the available options can be found in the Open Data Import Centre Dialog topic.

See Open Data Import Centre - Advanced Features topic for further information on import of objects via the Open Data Import Centre.

Saving and reloading configurations

You can save and reload the settings in the Assignment Grid.

• Click Save Config to save the grid settings to a configuration (CFG) file.
• Click Load Config to reload the grid settings.

Only the settings for the grid are saved. You will need to set the other dialog options to appropriate values (such as the Select Table to Import into field) before the saved configuration can be sensibly used.