Import sources

Use the following procedure to import a list of sources into Output Manager. Importing sources is particularly useful if you have a database or spreadsheet that lists your existing equipment. You can save that document as a CSV file and then import it to create matching sources in Output Manager.

Before you begin, review the following information on configuring/importing CSV files:

  • In the CSV file, the header record (first record) determines which fields are defined. You must configure the field names in the header record to match predefined Output Manager names. Field names that match are used to populate the settings associated with that column. Field names that do not match are ignore. Contact Support for the list of predefined Output Manager names.
  • Each record after the header record is created as a device. The device will contain the settings from the recognized columns for that record. Output Manager interprets values for text and numeric settings. For settings that have a fixed list of options, Output Manager matches the value to the name of the option. Values which are not recognized, out of bounds, or otherwise invalid are replaced with the default value for that setting.
  • Not all settings can be specified through the CSV file. For example, the input/output server, users, destinations, and profiles cannot be imported.
  • A single CSV file can be used to generate multiple device types, sources, and destinations. Output Manager only imports the settings which are recognized by the device type you are creating. For example, the CSV file can contain settings that are common to all devices types, settings for a particular device type, or settings for several different device types.
Complete the following steps to import sources from a CSV file.
  1. From the Sources tree, right-click a source group (folder) and click New Source. The new sources will be created in this group.
  2. From the Add Source dialog box, select the source type.
  3. Select Import devices from configuration (.csv) file.
  4. In the box, enter the path and file name of the configuration file or click the Browse (...) button to navigate to the file.
  5. When the configuration file is selected, click OK.
    This displays tab pages with options specific to the selected source type.
  6. Make the necessary changes on each tab.
    The following topics provide more information on configuring tabs for source types: