Downloading templates for data import

The Download Excel Template option 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 templates 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 name Contains
Data The data to be imported. There will be multiple Data worksheets if the data being imported includes Tabular or Functional data.
Links If the data being imported includes record links, record link information will be located on one or more Links worksheets.
Attribute Lookup The Attributes, Meta-Attributes, record properties, and static Record Link Groups to be imported.
Parameter Lookup Information about Functional data parameters, Tabular columns, and Record Link Groups being imported.
Import Options Options for record placement, auto-linking, data merge or append, and access control.
Import Sequence Options for importing data into more than one table or database, where this is required.

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

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.

For detailed information about the structure and format of Excel templates for importing data into Granta MI, see Granta MI Administration and Configuration.

To create an Excel workbook for data import:
  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 Data 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.