Downloading templates for data import

The Download Excel Template feature may be used to generate templates for importing data into a specific database and Table.

You can easily create a blank Microsoft Excel workbook tailored to the record type that you are creating, and using templates, refine the data needed to be entered. These Excel import workbooks include one or more worksheets where data can be entered, and also a number of additional worksheets that specify template metadata - import settings that specify how and where the data will be imported.

Worksheet Purpose
Data The worksheet containing the data to be imported. Typically,  it will be configured to restrict where and what type of data can be entered. Complex data for example functional data, or tabular data, will be appear on additional data worksheets.
Import Options Defines data import settings including:
  • Autoplacement options specifying the database, table, Subset, and record into which the data will be imported.
  • Auto-linking options specifying how incoming data can be automatically linked to existing records in the database based on their record names, GUIDs, or particular Attribute values.
  • Tree hierarchy options defining exactly where in the record tree new records will be placed.
  • Access control options specifying read/write permissions for imported records (for Granta implementations using permission-based access control).
  • Conflict resolution options specifying what happens when a record name conflict occurs on import.
Attribute Lookup Defines information about the Attributes to be imported: their name, data type, and units, and the location of the corresponding data worksheet. Also includes options for different types of Attribute, such as interpolation type (for functional Attributes) and whether or not data is imported with trailing zeroes (for point data). Each row represents an Attribute.
Parameter Lookup Maps Attribute parameter ranges for functional, tabular, and multi-value data to specific parameters or tabular columns in the database.
Template Information Specifies information about the template, including the name of the source database and table, the Granta MI software version with which the template was created, the name of the person who created (downloaded) the template and when the template was created, as well as a number of import/export options.
Note: Equations and Logic (EEL) Attributes will not be included in workbooks generated in this way. If you need an import workbook that includes this type of data, it will be necessary to edit the downloaded workbook in Microsoft Excel to add the required expression, parameter, and curve details.

Additional hidden worksheets in the generated workbook specify settings for data export which are not used when importing data.

For detailed information about the format of Excel templates for importing data into Granta MI, see Granta MI Administration and Configuration. This document can be accessed via Help > Reference Documentation .

To create an Excel workbook:
  1. In MI Viewer, open the database you would like the data to be imported into.
  2. In the Contents tree, locate the table or folder where the imported data will be placed and from the item menu () click Download Excel Template.
  3. On the Download Excel Template page, choose an import template.
    Your MI Administrator may have configured different templates for importing different kinds of data into the selected table.
    If there are no templates defined for the selected table, you can select the Default Template option here to generate a new workbook that includes all Attributes available in the current Layout.
  4. Click Download to generate the new import workbook and download it.

The template workbook can now be edited to add data, and then this data can be imported to create new records, or to update existing records, using the MI Import app.