Specifying Additional Options for Generic Data Imports

When you import data from a generic ODBC database, the Additional Data Options dialog box enables you to set options for re-importing data. These options are available only if you selected a unique numeric identifier on the Specify Data to Import dialog box when you performed the first data import.

The following options are available:

• Write Over Data in the Item, Using Import Data Maps – Select this option to write over data in previously imported items. For example, you may want to write over previously imported items if you adjust your field mapping after your initial import. During the subsequent import, field values are adjusted for previously imported items based on the new values, and new items are added.

• Leave the Item Unmodified – Select this option to import new data without modifying previously imported data.

• New Records Must Have Unique Text in Field – To prevent duplicate records in the receiving database, select this check box, and then select a field from the list. The list contains Text fields in receiving database that are not set as Memo fields and that were mapped on the Map External Source Fields to Destination Fields dialog box. Before adding new records, the Import Data Wizard checks the receiving table for records with identical values in this field. Searching is case-insensitive. Matching records are not updated, and new records containing the same value are not created. When new records are not created because of this setting, entries are added to the log file.

  Consider the following information when you select a field for uniqueness checking:

  • The system "title" field in the receiving table is marked with an asterisk.

  • To guarantee unique item IDs for all items imported to a table, you can select the Item ID field for uniqueness checking. Doing so overrides numbering properties you may have set up in the receiving project, however.

  • To avoid problems with duplicate contact names when you import data into the Contacts table, consider mapping the e-mail field and using it for uniqueness checking.

Click Next to continue.

The Save Your Import Option Set dialog box opens. For details, refer to Saving Your Import Option Set. For details on executing Import Options Sets, refer to Executing Import Options Sets. For logging information, refer to Import Data Log Information.