Report: Import data in Excel format

Use

The report can create models, objects, and connections and specify the defined attributes. Assignment relationships are represented, as well. If you do not use the Model structure worksheet, object definitions and connections are created in the database with the attributes defined. Since connections are defined by the objects they connect, they are not created unless they occur between objects in models. In that case, no models are generated.

Only items contained in your current method filter are included. If objects with the same names already exist, they will be imported. It is advisable to consolidate these objects afterwards.

The import is based on an Excel template that you output using the Create template for data import report.

Enter the required information in the tables in this template in the database language you will be using to log in for the data import. To display instructions on this page for completing the columns, click the various links. The names of the worksheets and column titles have not been adapted in the template. The names of the templates in this description are in parentheses. Please do not change them in the template. Otherwise, the data cannot be imported.

On the Model structure (Model_Structure), Model attributes (Model_Att), Objects (Objects), and Connections (Cxns) worksheets, you define the items to be created in the database. Depending on whether you want to create models or only object and connection definitions, you may not have to fill out all of the worksheets. Ensure that empty cells really do not contain any characters, for example, spaces. If spaces exist the report will not run without errors.

On the Assign model types (Mapping_Mod), Assign object types (Mapping_Obj), Assign symbol types (Mapping_Sym), Assign connection types (Mapping_CXN), and Assign attribute types (Mapping_Attr) worksheets, you assign the corresponding ARIS Method to each of your own terms.

Model structure (Model_Structure)

Use this table to define the structure of the models that will be created in the database.

In the example shown, the models created are Lending products of the Product tree type and Banking organization of the Organizational chart type. In addition, object definitions are created, and occurrences of the objects are inserted in the models and linked with the specified connections.

Example: Model structure

Specify the following columns:

Model type (M_TYPE)

In each row, enter the model type to be used for model creation.

Define the model types on the Assign model types worksheet. Please use the same name for each model type in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

Symbol (SYMBOL)

For each object, enter the name of the symbol to be used to represent that object in the model. These values must also be entered in the Symbol column on the Objects worksheet.

If you specify the Symbol column on the Objects worksheet, you do not have to enter anything in the Object type column. If you entered values in both columns, the value from the Symbol column is always used.

Define the names of the symbols on the Assign symbol types worksheet. Please use the same name for each symbol in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

Connection type (CXNS)

Starting with the row for the 2nd level object in a model, enter the connection type. Define the connection types on the Assign connection types worksheet. If you enter the connection types here, you do not have to edit the Connections worksheet unless you want to create connection attributes.

Please use the same name for each connection type in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

Model name and 1st level object (Object_name)

Enter the name of the object for the first hierarchy level. This name is used as the model name, as well. A model is generated for each of the objects you enter in this column.

If you define objects with identical names and of the same type in this column, a model is automatically assigned to the superior object.

2nd level object (Object_name)

Enter the name of the object for the second hierarchy level.

All objects you define here are linked to the 1st level object with the connection entered in the Connection type column.

nth level object (Object_name)

Enter the name of the objects for the next hierarchy level.

All objects you define here are linked to the object at the previous level using the connection entered in the Connection type column.

Model attributes (Model_Att)

Use this table to define the model attributes in the language you will be using to log in for the data import.

In the example shown, the Description and Person responsible attributes are specified for the Lending products, Credit cards, and Banking organization models. The Person responsible attribute is specified for the Credit banking business organizational chart.

You can specify any number of attributes. Because of the limited number of columns in an Excel table, you can specify a maximum of 250 attributes in each table.

If you require more than 250 attributes, you can insert additional connection tables. Note that the name of each connection table must be unique and begin with the prefix Model attributes_(Model_Att_).

Example: Model attributes

Specify the following columns:

Model type (M_TYPE)

Enter the model type in each row. The model attribute values are transferred to the database only for models of this type.

Define the model types on the Assign model types worksheet.

Model (NAME)

Enter the name for each model. The model name corresponds to the object name you used in the Model name and 1st level object column in the Model structure worksheet. Please use the same description for each name in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

<Attribute> (Attribute1-n)

As column headers, enter valid attribute type names to be specified for the models.

Define the attribute type names on the Assign attribute types worksheet. Please use the same name for each attribute type name in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

You can specify any number of attributes. Because of the limited number of columns in an Excel table, you can specify a maximum of 250 attributes in each table.

If you require more than 250 attributes, you can insert additional connection tables. Note that the name of each connection table must be unique and begin with the prefix Model attributes_(Model_Att_).

Handling of different attribute types

In general, attributes are specified as a string in the Excel table and imported. This handling was extended for the following attribute base types:

Boolean: You can enter the values true/false and 0/1.

Time/Date attributes: can be imported as a string, the format being language-dependent; the format that may be imported must therefore match the representation in Attribute Editing. For the following attribute types, the script language does additionally support language-independent formatting:

Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Time: hh:mm:ss.000;MM/DD/YYYY format

Objects

Use object tables to define the objects to be generated. Only objects that are unique with regard to their name and object type will be created in the database. Objects with identical names but of a different type are permitted, but must be included in the Connections (Cxns) worksheet.

You can specify any number of attributes. Because of the limited number of columns in an Excel table, you can specify a maximum of 250 attributes in each table.

If you require more than 250 attributes, you can insert additional connection tables. Note that the name of each connection table must be unique and begin with the prefix Objects_(Objects_).

In the example shown, the Digit attribute is specified for the General lending and Personal lending objects, the Cost center attribute is specified for the Banking organization object, and the E-mail address attribute is specified for persons.

Example: Objects

Specify the following columns:

Symbol (SYMBOL)

For each object, enter the name of the symbol to be used to represent that object in the model.

Use the name you entered in the Symbol column on the Model structure worksheet.

If you specify the Symbol column on the Objects worksheet, you do not have to enter anything in the Object type column. If you entered values in both columns, the value from the Symbol column is always used.

Define the names of the symbols on the Assign symbol types worksheet. Please use the same name for each symbol in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

Object type (O_TYPE)

If you did not enter values in the Symbol column enter the object type for each object.

You define object types on the Assign object types worksheet.

If you specify the Symbol column on the Objects worksheet, you do not have to enter anything in the Object type column. If you entered values in both columns, the value from the Symbol column is always used.

Define the names of the symbols on the Assign symbol types worksheet. Please use the same name for each symbol in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

Object (NAME)

Enter the name of the objects for which the attributes are to be specified in the database. Use the names you specified on the Model structure and Objects worksheets.

<Attribute> (Attribute1-n)

As column headers, enter valid attribute type names to be specified for the objects.

Define the attribute type names on the Assign attribute types worksheet. Please use the same name for each attribute type name in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

You can specify any number of attributes. Because of the limited number of columns in an Excel table, you can specify a maximum of 250 attributes in each table.

If you require more than 250 attributes, you can insert additional connection tables. Note that the name of each connection table must be unique and begin with the prefix Objects_(Objects_).

Handling of different attribute types

In general, attributes are specified as a string in the Excel table and imported. This handling was extended for the following attribute base types:

Boolean: You can enter the values true/false and 0/1.

Time/Date attributes: can be imported as a string, the format being language-dependent; the format that may be imported must therefore match the representation in Attribute Editing. For the following attribute types, the script language does additionally support language-independent formatting:

Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Time: hh:mm:ss.000;MM/DD/YYYY format

Connections (Cxns)

Use connection tables to define the connections to be created between each source object and target object. If the method does not allow a connection to be created in this direction, the connection will be drawn from the target object to the source object if that is possible. If no connection type has been entered in the mapping table or if the connection type is not valid, a connection is only created if precisely one connection type between the source and target objects is defined in the method.

You can specify any number of attributes. Because of the limited number of columns in an Excel table, you can specify a maximum of 250 attributes in each table.

If you require more than 250 attributes, you can insert additional connection tables. Note that the name of each connection table must be unique and begin with the prefix Connections_(Cxns).

After you have filled in the Connection type (Cxns) column on the Model structure worksheet, you do not need to edit the Connections (Cxns) worksheet unless you want to specify connection attributes.

In the second table on this worksheet, you can enter the object types for the respective source and target objects as well as their names, if required. Use this table if you create objects of different object types but with identical names. If all of the object names are different, use the first table.

Connections can only be created if you have defined the source objects and target objects to be used on the Objects (Objects) worksheet, and occurrences of the objects already exist in models. If you define connections between objects without occurrences in models, the connections cannot be drawn.

Example: Connections

Specify the following columns:

Connection type (C_TYPE)

Enter the connection type for which attributes are to be specified. Define the connection types on the Assign connection types worksheet. Please use the same name for each connection type in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

If you have specified connection types on the Model structure worksheet, you do not need to edit the Connections worksheet unless you want to specify connection attributes.

Object type (source object) (SO_TYPE)

Enter the object types of the objects that are the source of the connection. You define object types on the Assign object types worksheet. Always use the identical name.

You need to specify the column only if you are creating objects with the same name and of different object types, and if you have not entered any connections on the Model structure worksheet.

Object type (target object) (TO_TYPE)

Enter the object types of the objects that are the target of the connection. You define object types on the Assign object types worksheet. Always use the identical name.

You need to specify the column only if you are creating objects with the same name and of different object types, and if you have not entered any connections on the Model structure worksheet.

Source object (SOURCE)

Enter the names of the objects that are the source of the connection. Use the names you specified on the Model structure and Objects worksheets.

Target object (TARGET)

Enter the names of the objects that are the target of the connection. Use the names you specified on the Model structure and Objects worksheets.

<Attribute> (<AttributeA-N>)

As column headers, enter valid attribute type names to be specified for the connections.

Define the attribute type names on the Assign attribute types worksheet. Please use the same name for each attribute type name in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

You can specify any number of attributes. Because of the limited number of columns in an Excel table, you can specify a maximum of 250 attributes in each table.

If you require more than 250 attributes, you can insert additional connection tables. Note that the name of each connection table must be unique and begin with the prefix Connections_(Cxns).

Handling of different attribute types

In general, attributes are specified as a string in the Excel table and imported. This handling was extended for the following attribute base types:

Boolean: You can enter the values true/false and 0/1.

Time/Date attributes: can be imported as a string, the format being language-dependent; the format that may be imported must therefore match the representation in Attribute Editing. For the following attribute types, the script language does additionally support language-independent formatting:

Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Time: hh:mm:ss.000;MM/DD/YYYY format

Assign model types (Mapping_Mod)

In this allocation table, you must assign the API names from the ARIS Method to the model types you specified in the Model type (M_TYPE) column on the Model structure (Model_Structure) and Model attributes (Model_Att) worksheets.

Model type (column A)

Specify the model types you entered in the Model type column on the Model structure and Model attributes worksheets. Please use the same name for your model types in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

API name (column B)

For each model type, specify the type number or the API name from ARIS Method. A type from ARIS Method will then be assigned to each model type you have defined.

For user-defined model types, use the corresponding GUID of the user-defined type. The GUID is displayed if you click Configuration > Method > Model types in the Navigation bar on the Administration tab, select the relevant model type in the table and click Properties.

Each API name represents one item of the ARIS Method. The API names for the model types are listed in the Method help (Help > Method help) or on the Administration tab under Configuration > Method > Model types in the Navigation bar. To open the context-sensitive Method help, open a model of the type you require, click in the model background, and press Ctrl + F1. Copy the API name, for example, MT_ORG_CHRT, and paste it into the table.

Assign object types (Mapping_Obj)

In this allocation table you must assign the API names from the ARIS Method to the object types you specified on the Model structure (Model_Structure) and Objects (Objects) worksheets.

You do not have to edit this table if you have filled in the Symbol (SYMBOL) columns in each of the worksheets.

Object type (column A)

Use the object types you specified on the Model structure and Objects worksheets. Please use the same name for your objects in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

API name (column B)

For each object type, specify the API name from ARIS Method. A type from ARIS Method will then be assigned to each object type you have defined.

For user-defined object types, use the corresponding GUID of the user-defined type. The GUID is displayed if you click Configuration > Method > Object types in the Navigation bar on the Administration tab, select the relevant object type in the table, and click Properties.

Each API name represents one item of the ARIS Method. The API names for the object types are listed in the Method help (Help > Method help) or on the Administration tab under Configuration > Method > Object types in the Navigation bar. To open the context-sensitive Method help, select an object of the type you require and press Ctrl+F1. Copy the API name, for example, OT_FUNC, and paste it into the table.

Assign symbol types (Mapping_Sym)

In this allocation table you must assign the API names from the ARIS Method to the object symbols you specified on the Model structure (Model_Structure) and Objects (Objects) worksheets.

Symbol type (column A)

Use the names of the symbols you specified on the Model structure and Objects worksheets. Please use the same name for your symbols in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

API name (column B)

For each symbol, specify the API name from ARIS Method. A type from ARIS Method will then be assigned to each symbol you have defined.

For user-defined symbol types, use the corresponding GUID of the user-defined type. The GUID is displayed if you click Configuration > Method > Symbols in the Navigation bar on the Administration tab, select the relevant symbol type in the table, and click Properties.

Each API name represents one item of the ARIS Method. The API names for symbol types are listed on the Administration tab under Configuration > Method > Symbols in the Navigation bar.

Assign connection types (Mapping_Cxn)

In this allocation table you must assign the API names from the ARIS Method to the connection types you specified on the Model structure (Model_Structure) and Connections (Cxns) worksheets.

Connection type (column A)

Use the connection types you specified on the Model structure and Connections worksheets. Please use the same name for your connection types in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

API name (column B)

For each connection type, specify the API name from ARIS Method. A type from ARIS Method will then be assigned to each connection type you have defined.

For user-defined connection types, use the corresponding GUID of the user-defined type. The GUID is displayed if you click Configuration > Method > Connection types in the Navigation bar on the Administration tab, select the relevant connection type in the table, and click Properties.

Each API name represents one item of the ARIS Method. The API names for connection types are listed on the Administration tab under Configuration > Method > Connection types in the Navigation bar.

Assign attribute types (Mapping_Attr)

In this allocation table you must assign the API names from the ARIS Method to the attribute types you specified on the Model attributes, Objects, and Connections worksheets.

Attribute type (column A)

Use the attribute types you specified on the Model attributes, Objects, and Connections worksheets. Please use the same name for your attribute types in all worksheets so that a unique assignment is possible.

Handling of different attribute types

In general, attributes are specified as a string in the Excel table and imported. This handling was extended for the following attribute base types:

Boolean: You can enter the values true/false and 0/1.

Time/Date attributes: can be imported as a string, the format being language-dependent; the format that may be imported must therefore match the representation in Attribute Editing. For the following attribute types, the script language does additionally support language-independent formatting:

Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Time: hh:mm:ss.000;MM/DD/YYYY format

API name (column B)

For each attribute type, specify the API name from ARIS Method. A type from ARIS Method will then be assigned to each attribute type you have defined.

For user-defined attribute types, use the corresponding GUID of the user-defined type. The GUID is displayed if you click Configuration > Method > Attribute types in the Navigation bar on the Administration tab, select the relevant attribute type in the table, and click Properties.

Each API name represents one item of the ARIS Method. The API names for the attribute types are listed in the Method help (Help > Method help) or on the Administration tab under Configuration > Method > Attribute types in the Navigation bar. To open the context-sensitive Method help, select an item, start Attribute Editing (F8), select a table value, and press Ctrl+F1. Copy the API name, for example, AT_NAME, and paste it into the table.

Context

The report is run as a group report – all items are created within this group. This means that the objects can also be imported multiple times and consolidated subsequently, if required.

Output

When the report is run, the following errors are logged in a document:

Errors that may occur during data transfer are written to a log file as text, including a specification of the sheet name, row number and column number.