This document provides an overview of using Rapid Data Import (RDI) in Saba to import business data as component records. It discusses downloading sample templates, creating import files, uploading files and monitoring imports through log files. The document also covers creating scheduled import jobs to regularly import data on a predefined frequency using SFTP connections and mappings. The goals are to understand the RDI process, successfully import record data files, view and download log files, and create and process import jobs.

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The ABC’s of RDI (Rapid Data Import)
Brian Picchi
Senior Technical Trainer, Saba University
June 2015
Roopa Panuganti
Customer Success Manager, Technical Support
June 2015

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• Understand how to enter records into an import file template
• Successfully import a record data file
• View and download the import log files
• Create and process data import jobs
Course Goals

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• Overview and Creating the Import File
• Monitoring Files and Downloading Logs
• Managing Data Import Jobs
Topics

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Topic
Overview and Creating the
Import File

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What is Rapid Data Import?
• Rapid Data Import (RDI) is an import service that enables you to
import business data as Saba component records.
• You use this service to migrate data sets from external data sources
or to create new bulk records.
• Once an import has completed, you can be emailed a confirmation
notification for each imported file by object.

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import Process Flow
Download
Sample
Template
Create
Import
File
Upload
Import
File
Monitor
Import
and View
Log

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Ad Hoc Bulk Import

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Tips on Using the Import Template
• Sample files can be downloaded for each of the supported object
types.
• Only required fields need to have values provided within the
template.
• Unused optional fields can be ignored or deleted.
• When updating records use the SKIP value to ignore updates on
specific fields.

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Topic
Monitoring Files and
Downloading Logs

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How are Log Files used?
• Log files are generated every time you upload a new import file or a
scheduled job is run.
• With the logs you’ll find details around the status of your import
including any specific records that generated warnings or errors.
• In the event one or more records failed to import, the log file will tell
you specifically what went wrong so you can correct it.

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Excel Formatting Gotchas
• If an ID number should have
leading zeros, ensure the cells
are formatted to accept them.
Leading Zero’s
• Ensure that cells are formatted
to capture decimals when
needed for fields like Version.
Decimals
• Dates need to be in the same
format as shown in the
template, such as 2015-06-20.
Date Formats

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Viewing the Log Files

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Viewing the Log Files

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Viewing the Log Files

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Viewing the Log Files – summaryLog_Base.csv

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Viewing the Log Files

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Topic
Managing Data Import Jobs

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What is a data import job?
• In addition to performing ad hoc manual imports, you can schedule
data import jobs.
• A job is a collection of one or more objects that are imported into
Saba on a recurring frequency (e.g., daily, weekly, etc.) which is
defined by the administrator.
• These batch jobs can use predefined SFTP connections and data
mappings to perform the import.

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Creating an Import Job

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Creating an Import Job

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Creating an Import Job

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Creating an Import Job

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Creating an Import Job

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Creating an Import Job

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Saba Cloud
Customer Community
http://community.sabacloud.com
For more information:

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