Importing attributes from a spreadsheet problems

I've been trying to import attributes from a spreadsheet into a DOORS module but have been having problems with new objects being created. I don't know whats causing this. The .csv file looks right (well, to me it does). The import filter has the following selected:

Import to attributes: By column labels
Import options: Update existing objects
Update: All objects
semokoo10 - Wed Apr 13 15:56:33 EDT 2011

Re: Importing attributes from a spreadsheet problems
llandale - Wed Apr 13 16:08:36 EDT 2011

If you want to update existing objects, the importer must be able to match an import row with an object. It does that with a "Key" attribute-column pair. You specify the "key" after hitting the "import" button, when "update existing objects" is selected. This only works when indeed that attribute is indeed a key.

If your spread sheet last month is composed of "Object Text" and "IsRequirement", then there is no "key" for you to import this month; since when "Object Text" is modified in the spread sheet it will not longer match the "Object Text" in the module and so you get a new object.

Now if you are clever in this case you'd do this: Import the spread sheet creating lots of new objects. Create a view with Object Identifier, Object Text, and IsRequirement columns. Export that back out to Spreadsheet. Have your Spreadsheet folks edit the Text. Now when you import it this month you can declare the "Object Identifier" column as the "Key", and DOORS will be able to do the matching and will update existing objects.

  • Louie

Re: Importing attributes from a spreadsheet problems
semokoo10 - Thu Apr 14 08:48:01 EDT 2011

Thanks Louie. I have been using a qualifier - the object identifier. I have tried this several times and the attributes are getting updated but it continually inserts new objects. And the objects being inserted are headers.

Re: Importing attributes from a spreadsheet problems
SystemAdmin - Fri Apr 15 05:42:25 EDT 2011

semokoo10 - Thu Apr 14 08:48:01 EDT 2011
Thanks Louie. I have been using a qualifier - the object identifier. I have tried this several times and the attributes are getting updated but it continually inserts new objects. And the objects being inserted are headers.

Did you create the csv file from MSExcel?

Have a look at your csv file in a text editor like notepad - it may have some rows with lots of commas but no data.

When you save a MSExcel file in csv format, MSExcel doesn't always stop at the last row containing data and may include a whole lot of empty rows in the csv file. Another hidden trap can be hidden rows in MSExcel - these will be included in a csv file.

Paul Miller
Melbourne, Australia