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iImport

iImport Windows Interface Screenshot

The documentation on this page is for the Windows desktop application called iImport.

For the browser-based cloud app iDMS iImport that is part of the iMIS Data Management Suite, please click here.


iImport Overview

The Import Tool is used to insert and update new records in iMIS from a spreadsheet. 
The spreadsheet format is stored as a template and can be reused for future imports and updates. 
The tool supports mapping data to name, address, and custom demographics tabs. iImport applies iMIS rules including address flow-down to ensure data integrity. A report verifies your results. 

iImport Basic System Requirements

The following system specifications are required to successfully run iImport:

  • Windows 7 and higher

  • SQL Server 2008/2008R2/2012/2014/2016/2017

  • iMIS version 15.2 or higher

  • .NET Framework 3.5

  • UDP port 1434 must be open on the SQL server

  • The  user  must  have  a permissions  level  of  4  for  Customers  and  8  for  Sys  Mgmt in iMIS

Installing iImport

NOTE: It is best practice for all users to be on the same version of iImport.

  1. Download iImport from https://customer.csiinc.com/ to your workstation.

    1. You will need your CSI Website User Name and password. If you do not have this information contact support@csiinc.com

  2. Unzip the folder, and navigate to the unzipped folder.

  3. Double Click the setup.exe

  4. The Setup Wizard will open. Click Next.

  5. The license Agreement will display. Select "I accept..." and Click Next.

  6. Verify the default installation folder. Click Next.

  7. Click Install to start the installation. A screen will then show, displaying the progress of the install.

  8. A screen will confirm that iImport has been successfully installed. Click Finish.

Note: On shared computers (i.e. Terminal Servers, etc.) where more than one user needs access to iImport, the product will need to be installed for each user. The product installs to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Computer System Innovations\iImport.

About the License Key

When you first log into iImport, the license process will attempt to register your license key automatically by calling back to CSI to get your iMIS information. If the information that CSI has on record is accurate then you will not be prompted with any license key information. It will update your license information automatically.
If the process cannot call CSI or the license key information does not check out with what CSI has on record, then you will be prompted to enter a license key manually. You will need to obtain this key by contacting CSI Support. After the license key has been validated and entered, you will be able to use iImport on your iMIS database. Since the license key is stored in your iMIS database, you will only need to enter this key once per database. Installing iImport on a new computer will not require you to re-enter your license key.
Note: Changing the "Licensed To:" name for iMIS will require a new license key. If the license key detects a change in this, it will follow the same process as above trying to call back to CSI to verify your product information. In most cases, if you are prompted for license information it is likely that CSI does not have your updated iMIS information. Contact CSI at support@csiinc.com with a screen shot of the current iMIS System Setup and a new key will be emailed to you.

  1. Log into iMIS as an administrator (manager)

  2. Click on File > System Setup in the top toolbar

  3. Copy and send to support@csiinc.com

iImport Log In

Once the program is installed a shortcut will be created on the Microsoft Start menu. Log in using your iMIS login and password. DSN represents your iMIS 10 ODBC server location. The web server represents your iMIS 15 (and above) application server location. 
The user must have a permissions level of 4 for Customers and 8  for Sys Mgmt in iMIS.
Because iImport lauches with Administrator rights, sometimes, due to the way that network drives are mapped, you may not be able to access them to load files. In this scenario, please contact your system administrator or use the UNC mapping.

Specify File for Import

The first step in the import process is to specify the file to be imported. Use the 'Browse' button to locate the file to be imported.
Note: iImport only supports Excel files, comma delimited files, and tab delimited files.


Once the import file has been selected, specify which worksheet to pull the data from and whether the first row contains the column headings (highly recommended). The Membership Import Tool will read the spreadsheet and display a list of the column headings.
Verify the correct spreadsheet has been selected and select 'Next'. 
NOTE: If you have edited your spreadsheet by removing rows, please remember to delete the entire row from the spreadsheet, rather than simply deleting the data from that row.

Load an Existing Template

Fields may be mapped to iMIS by either creating a new template or by loading a pre-existing template. Use the menu option File>Load to open an existing template. The currently loaded template will display to the right of the file menu.

Create or Modify a Template

Once a template is loaded it can be modified or alternately you can create a new template. If you expect to reuse the import template for future imports, choose the menu option File > Save to save the template file when you are done.
Match On:
You must define the key fields that link the data in your spreadsheet to the data you want to update in iMIS. All you need to do is locate the drop down for that field/column and choose its corresponding value from the spreadsheet. Then click the "Match On" box to the right of the field to mark it as a field to match on.
The name, address, and custom demographic tabs and their related fields from iMIS are all preloaded. You may choose the following for each field:

  • Leave it blank, in which case the Membership Import Tool will use iMIS rules to set a default value or will load the field with a '' <blank> value.

  • Type a fixed value for all import records. The background color of the field will change to beige, representative of a 'hard coded' value. This value will be inserted into iMIS for all imported records.

  • Choose a column from the import source file to insert into iMIS. The background color of the field will change to green, representative of a mapped field value.

Basic Mapping Requirements

Import




Minimum number of MAPPED fields

1 field


Required field

FIRST_NAME or LAST_NAME or COMPANY

Update


Match On EXCLUDES ID field

Match On INCLUDES ID field


Minimum number of MATCH ON fields

2 fields

1 field


Required field(s)

1. FIRST_NAME or LAST_NAME or COMPANY

2. Any field

ID

Import Company and Company Roster

[Import Only]




Minimum number of MAPPED fields

3 fields


Required field(s)

1. "Company Roster Matching On" 
2. MEMBER_TYPE 
3. COMPANY

  1. See section “Import Company and Company Roster [IMPORT ONLY]” for details on this feature

  2. "Match On" field links data in import file to the corresponding data in iMIS.

  3. Example of "fixed" value typed in by user which will apply globally to all records. (Beige background)

  4. Example of value selected from drop-down menu (i.e., from import file). (Green background)

  5. For User Defined tables, the Tabs names match the window names from iMIS desktop. If no window exists, the tab name matches the table name. Tabs with an asterisk denote that multiple windows are represented within the tab. That is, in iMIS, data from a table is displayed on multiple window tabs. For Panel Sources, the tab name matches the Panel Source name.

  6. When synchronization is mapped in iMIS (Customers Setup > Address and notes), the field will be grayed out (with the exception of Email).

  7. The text ribbon displays all "Match On" selections (i.e., from all tabs) fields from all tabs.

When updating multi-instance check boxes, you may use "1" for checked and "0" for unchecked. 
Remember: You cannot match on Multi-Instance fields without matching also on the Name Table as well. 
Note: If synchronization for email is turned on in iMIS and you enter two different (and non-blank)email addresses on the address and profile tabs, the address from the address tab is the one that will take precedence.

Import Company and Company Roster

This feature allows company records to be imported simultaneously alongside their child records (i.e., company roster). This feature is turned OFF by default. It can be turned ON by checking the checkbox next to "Import Companies and Rosters [IMPORT ONLY]".
When the checkbox is enabled, iImport is placed into import-only mode. The ability to update records is disabled, and the Match On check boxes disabled.


Screenshot...


  1. Select Company RosterMatching On field: Select the field used to link company records together. Typically, this field is denoted as COMPANY in the import file.

    1. The text ribbon provides additional validation of the actions that will be performed when the Import/Update button is pressed.

  2. This ribbon will display which field of your import file is being matched on.

    1. IMPORTANT: Remember to also map all the other fields in the import file that you wish to import into iMIS.

  3. When all mappings are complete, click Import/Update.

  4. The log window displays, notifying how many records will be created.

  5. Click here to preview uses the current mapping to show how the post-import roster will appear.

  6. When ready, click Close. Then continue on by clicking Continue or Cancel.

User Credentials

On the Credentials tab, you have the ability to create and change user credentials. Important notes due to iMIS credential rules: 

  • You may add a username to a new or existing record using iImport.

  • You may not update/change an existing username using iImport. 

  • You may add or update/change a password using iImport.

  • When importing new credentials, you must supply both username AND password.



IMPORT new data

UPDATE existing data

Username

Yes

No

Password

Yes

Yes

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BULLET POINTS

  • When using credentials, please make sure that all of the passwords you are providing meet the minimum requirements for iMIS. This is essential in iMIS versions 20 and up. The default minimum requirements for passwords are a minimum length of 7, and the password includes at least one numeric character. If you are not sure what your password requirements are or if they have possibly been changed, you can open the web.config file under your iMIS instance and check for the <CustomizedProvider> tag to confirm your password requirements. If the setting for "requiresQuestionAndAnswer" or "requiresUniqueEmail" is turned on, user credentials will not be able to be imported or updated. This feature will be compatible with iImport when ASI releases a newer version of the ASI.IBO or released their RESTful API.
    When creating new user credentials via iImport (i.e. importing a new record), you must be sure that the username is not already in use, or else you will receive an error in your iImport report such as the one below.


    When this error occurs, the record that caused the issue must be cleaned up from the database and/or the username of the new record in the import sheet corrected so that it is not a duplicate of one that is already in use. Once this is fixed, you may re-run the import. 

  • iImport checks each line of your file line by line, so if you receive this message more than once, pay attention to which Username is causing the error to be thrown. No records will be imported or updated until all records reflect unique usernames.

  • If no email is entered on the correct tab relating to the iMIS flowdown, USER CREDENTIALS WILL NOT BE CREATED!

  • If you have a "Default Expiration Date, in years from last login" set in iMIS as a setting, then it will override any expiration date provided in iImport when the user logs in.

Ignore Blank Values

This feature provides the option to ignore blank values during the import process. This screen can be found by going to Tools>Options. With this option checked, fields which have been chosen for import from your spreadsheet will not overwrite data in iMIS, if those fields are blank. 
As an example, let's say you have a spreadsheet with updated email addresses for a hundred of your existing constituents, but there is only an entry in the field if the email is new. Having this option checked will prevent those fields which are blank on your spreadsheet from overwriting valid email values in iMIS. If, of course, there is an entry in the spreadsheet's field, it will overwrite the field in iMIS, effectively updating the data. 
However, if on the other hand you do wish to overwrite the field (or fields) in iMIS, even if the spreadsheet has a blank value for some records, unchecking this value in Options will accomplish that. Also note, when the option "Cells containing the following text will be blanked out:" is checked, any cell in the spreadsheet that contains the value entered in the textbox, will be blanked out.

Import the Records

Once the template set up is complete, select the Import/Update button from the lower right corner of the field mapping screen. The Membership Import Tool will immediately begin importing the records. The process may take several minutes to complete if there is a high volume of records. An import of 60 records typically takes less than 30 seconds dependent on other server activity.
Before the records fully process, you will be prompted by a screen such as the one below:

This screen shows the number of records to be imported and the number to be updated. You may select to run iImport and only update, only import, or both. When there are no records in that category, the selection will be disabled (as you can see in the screenshot above). By clicking on Click here to view the log, you have the ability to view which records are going to be imported and which ones will be updated by clicking on their respective tabs.
On completion you will receive a confirmation message and the opportunity to display a report confirming the actions of the import process including a control total of records processed and any errors encountered. By selecting "Yes" a new window will appear.



You will have the option to view the log of the import/update, as well as the completed and uncompleted records. 
By navigating to File> you have the option to save any of the logs or lists as well as print them. 

Validate UD Table Setup

Option -> Validate UD table setup
This troubleshooting utility compares the UD table definitions stored in iMIS against the UD table definitions stored in the SQL system tables. If any discrepancies are found they are displayed on the UD Table Setup Validation window. If no errors are found the results grid will be empty (see below). 


In addition, after the initial login to iImport, if there are any discrepancies, a warning will appear (below), instructing the user to check this setup.



Please contact Advanced Solutions International (ASI) or your service provider for assistance in correcting this error.

iImport Troubleshooting

Issue: iImport automatically runs with elevated rights. You have a user that does not have 'admin' rights to their PC (or Terminal Server), and therefore iImport does not run for them.
Resolution: There is not a way around having iImport run with 'Run as Administrator' rights – but there IS a workaround for when a user does not have such rights themselves. The below steps will allow a standard domain user account to run an application as local administrator. Create a shortcut that uses the runas command with the /savecred switch, which saves the local admin password. (Note: A network Admin will need to assist with these steps)

  1. Enable the built-in Administrator account - Search for Command Prompt in the Start menu, right-click the Command Prompt shortcut, and select Run as administrator

    1. Run <net user administrator /active:yes> in the elevated Command Prompt

  2. Create a password for the Administrator account - Open the Control Panel, select User Accounts and Family Safety, and select User Accounts. Click the Manage another account link in the User Accounts window

  3. Create the Shortcut - Right-click the desktop (or elsewhere), point to New, and select Shortcut.

    1. Enter <runas /user:ComputerName\Administrator /savecred "C:\Path\To\Program.exe"> into the box that appears. Replace ComputerName with the name of your computer and C:\Path\To\Program.exe with the full path of the program you want to run.

  4. Customize your shortcut - Enter a name for the shortcut. To select an icon for your new shortcut, right-click it and select Properties. Click the Change Icon button in the Properties window

  5. Save Credentials - The first time you double-click your shortcut, you'll be prompted to enter the Administrator account's password, which you created earlier. This password will be saved – the next time you double-click the shortcut, the application will launch as Administrator without asking you for a password.


Issue: iImport errors out when trying to update or insert certain fields in iMIS.

Resolution: Check to see if there are any custom triggers associated with any of the tables (especially Name, Name_Address, and Usermain).  The below script, which can be ‘copy & pasted’ directly into SQL Mangement Studio, will list out all triggers that do not begin with ‘ASI’.

Most error messages in the import log are descriptive.  The Membership Import Tool follows iMIS rules for records on import.  Therefore,you must define valid values for such things as member types.  It is also important that you map fields to the correct corresponding fields in iMIS.  Refer to the iMIS database schema to confirm mapping locations.


Issue: Unable to set Solicitor ID

Resolution: Due to iMIS API Limitations, many fields in Name_FR are not available in iImport.  Consider upgrading to iDMS.  https://www.csiinc.com/iDMS

If you have any issues with iImport, please contact CSI Support at support@csiinc.com. Tickets are normally responded to within 1 to 2 business days after they are submitted.

iImport Release Notes

Version

Date

Notes

2.5.0

3/14/2023

EMS on prem support

When importing new records, the records should be created as a company record if the only information set is company name

2.4.21

3/9/2022

Correct issue with data type bit.  Make changes to reload button logic (CW 116028 & 113733)

2.4.20

1/5/2022

Fix issue with RecordIndex not being reset when new import is loaded. (CW 113733)

2.4.19

9/20/2021

UD Field Names bug fix. Some fields show without names. (CW 106676)

2.4.18

2/2/2021

Add support for mobile phone number (CW 102210)

2.4.15

1/18/2021

Allow Expiration date update/insert for user credentials (CW 101676)

2.4.14

11/4/2020

Lock down being able to update existing user credentials (CW 99670)

2.4.12

12/4/2019

International license update; Downgrade .NET 4.6(CW 9451)

2.4.10

10/9/2019

Resolve bug where mapping to binary fields caused a casting error. (CW 89160)

2.4.9

8/15/2019

Added menu item 'User Guide' that opens a browser tab to docs.csiinc.com/apps/iimport 

Removed install of .pdf user guide. Replaced with .url document linking to docs.csiinc.com/apps/iimport

2.4.8

7/3/2019

Fixed issue in FormatFullName not checking for null or white space strings (CW 85767)

2.4.7

7/1/2019

Fix issue when synching email address. (CW 85132)

2.4.6

4/1/2019

Added Configuration label to top of Customers Mapping form. (CW 84280)

2.4.5

3/1/2019

Fixed issue of when clicking the Reload File button did not reload the file. (CW 83759)

2.4.4

2/21/2019

  • Blank Value Options are now saved into template XML filed. (CW 83270)

  • Blank Value Options are saved globally and can be per import session only.

  • Add new option on "Only update when value is blank" per field basis (CW 83270)

2.4.3

7/17/2018

Fixed issue with importing user credentials when user has changed address tab names (CW 76277)

2.4.2

6/04/2018

Client installation improvements (CW75650)

2.4.1

2/22/2018

Fixed issue where iMIS credentials were trying to be created when there was no user name specified in the column of the spreadsheet. (CW 73502)

2.4.0

1/29/2018

  • Added form to find triggers on Database. (CW 73059)

  • Updated bad address pointers logic (CW 72769)

2.3.21

1/10/2018

Updated licensing in CSI.Core. (CW 72484)

2.3.20

12/14/2017

Fixed issue with bad address pointers being found incorrectly. (CW 72195)

2.3.19

11/10/2017

Enhanced blank field option to not accept apostrophes. (CW 71142)

2.3.17

8/25/2017

Added validation for Name.ID and Name.CO_ID being the same value. (CW 69295)

2.3.16

7/19/2017

  • Added a log of exact IDs with bad addresses (CW 68759)

  • Added error reporting to CSI servers if the user enables. (CW 47808)

2.3.15

5/31/2017

  • Added matching on multi-instance tables. (CW 66306)

  • Added support for HTTPS. (CW 67146)

2.3.12

12/20/2016

Updated warning for bad address data functionality. (CW 64929)

2.3.11

12/9/2016

Added warning for bad address data and ability to cancel import if it exists. (CW 64929)

2.3.0

11/10/2016

Added ID and SEQN column headers in post import report. (CW 64463)

2.2.9

11/1/2016

Fixed various scenarios with user credentials. If no email is entered for user, user credentials will not be created. (CW 64163)

2.2.8

8/4/2016

  • Fix time out issue when user selects username and password for mappings (CW 62887)

  • Fix Name.EMAIL not being imported to Name table (CW 62913)

2.2.7

7/26/2016

Improve SQL comparison on finding for invalid user-defined tables (CW 61992)

2.2.6

7/22/2016

Fix issue with parsing numerical values in numbers field. (CW 62689)

2.2.5

5/3/2016

  • Fix validation step for minimal field requirements on imports. (CW 61150)

  • Prevent email from being sent on changing user password. (CW 61140)

2.2.4

4/25/2016

Fix issue when creating/updating credentials. (CW 59745)

2.2.3

3/11/2016

  • Add support for new Panel Data Source. (CW 51819)

  • Minor UI updates. (CW 57736)

  • Add support for credential expiration date. (CW 57808)

2.1.0

9/28/2015

Add new feature to Import Company and Company Roster (CW 50187)

2.0.42

8/13/2015

Fix field length validation on Name table: US_CONGRESS, STATE_SENATE, and STATE_SENATE should be 20 characters long at most. (CW 49612)

2.0.41

8/13/2015

  • Update "Match On" criteria when importing and updating records (CW 49120)

  • Fix error occurring when mapping single field (CW 49091)

2.0.38

7/16/2015

Enhancements to login control and iMIS URL handling. (CW 48242)

2.0.37

6/22/2015

  • Prompt message when importing new records while updating existing ones also (CW 47392)

  • Fixed bug when there are empty rows in a spreadsheet (CW 47394)

  • Added more informational dialogs when using credentials (CW 48062)

  • Fix bugs with login control URL (CW 48172, 48242)

2.0.32

5/14/2015

  • Enhancements for Licensing, Login and About dialog windows. (CW 46311)

  • Added a "Reload" button on the main window to quickly reload a spreadsheet (CW 45646)

  • Allow matching on address fields. (CW 45606)

  • Revised error window when not mapping First Name, Last Name and/or Company (CW 45432)

  • Fixed error when loading an older custom mapping file (CW 47255)

  • Fix error with creating duplicate records when credentials fields are mapped (CW 46750)

2.0.26

3/9/2015

Fix issues with Fields on "Other" tab not mapping to the name table. (CW 45593)

2.0.23

12/11/2014

  • Add enhancement to the old 'PK' which is now shown as "Match On" as column header. (CW 42589)

  • Added import summary of what fields are being matched on at bottom of screen (CW 42589)

  • Update to consider empty value in 'country' as US address, and format home phone number(CW 44192)

  • Fix bug with email not mapping properly with sync rules on profile tab (CW #45231)

2.0.21

11/17/2014

  • Add ability to import username and password and save fields to a field mapping template (CW #42431)

  • Added ability to use email as primary key when address mapping is turned on (CW #40264)

  • Updated the 'Blank Values' functionality (CW #42432)

  • Default Ignore Blank Values setting to be enabled

  • Added more conditions when validating UD Tables.

  • Removed iMIS version 15.2.17 specific code that was causing errors for other versions of 15.2.x

2.0.15

10/21/2014

Update tabulation labels for user-defined tables (CW #42428)

2.0.13

10/13/2014

Fixed a bug when importing international dates (CW #32915)

2.0.12

9/11/2014

  • Fix error when an apostrophe was in an imported field (CW #41822)

  • Added validation for UD tables to main window (CW #41152)

  • Fixed bug with Mail Code. Removed from Customer tab and added to Address tabs (CW #40596)

  • Added validation for Mail Code to check for existence in iMIS (CW #40596)

2.0.11

9/3/2014

  • Add new Support link in Help menu (CW #41078)

  • Fix international date import bug (CW #32915)

2.0.10

8/12/2014

  • Add company name, phones, and default address flow down (CW #41078)

  • Remove leading and trailing spaces from fields value in import file (CW #41078)

  • Rework Blank Value options and behaviors (CW #41078)

2.0.9

5/22/2014

Resolve issues with updating Boolean type field in user defined tables (CW #39859)

2.0.8

5/5/2014

Improve display message when finding mismatch user-defined table fields (CW #39531)

2.0.7

4/7/2014

Default connection type selection to iMIS15 setting in common login control (CW #38886)

2.0.6

4/4/2014

Disable Blank Value Text input field when Ignore Blank Value option is checked (CW #38889)

2.0.5

3/26/2014

Fix behavior issues with Blank Value options (CW #38889)

2.0.4

3/25/2014

  • Disable Profile input fields under sync. to address setting (CW #37598)

  • Add display of SQL server information in help about menu option (CW #38888)

2.0.3

3/24/2014

Remove deprecated logging options (CW # 38889)

2.0.2

2/18/2014

Minor installer updates (CW # 37748)

2.0.1

2/18/2014

Fix issues finding multiple records (CW # 38251)

2.0.0

2/6/2014

Merge iImport Updater functionality with main iImport program (CW #37748)

1.2.5

1/24/2014

  • Add Open iBO dependencies (CW #37598)

  • Remove manual edition of program configuration file

1.2.4

11/5/2013

Fix mapping issues with currency and number data types (CW #36018)

1.2.3

10/4/2013

  • Support inserting new Contacts

  • Support inserting into UDT when mapped values exist

1.2.2

8/9/2013

Fix the issue of login control Web Server Url (remove "/cs" or "/cs2") for iMIS 20

1.2.0

7/24/2013

  • Add carriage returns standard formatting in text fields (CW #33826)

  • Add Gender field to the Others tab (CW #33754)

  • Integrate the new Login Control that supports iMIS 20 (CW #33657)

1.0.23

7/5/2013

  • Integrate with the new version of Login control and add a Uninstall shortcut

  • Fix issue with missing Counter (CW #33449)

1.0.22

5/17/2013

Fix the error when updating a Date filed with null value (CW #32271)

1.0.21

1/14/2013

  • Add validation of User Defined Table setup (CW #1172)

  • New login control update version 1.4

1.0.20

12/18/2012

Fix import action stuck when no primary key is set (CW #29799)

1.0.19

9/20/2012

Fix display of mapping fields missing default prompt (CW #28316)

1.0.17

9/20/2012

Fix display of mapping fields missing default prompt (CW #28316)

1.0.16

8/20/2012

Add backup/restoration of "Membership Import.exe.config" file (CW #26144)

1.0.15

6/5/2012

Add support for XLSX files (CW #26143)

1.0.14


Fix support for x64 operating systems

1.0.13


Fix references to ADODB library 2.8

1.0.12


Force application to run in 32 bit mode

1.0.11


Update CSIUtil.DLL to version 1.1

1.0.10


Fix Paid Thru Date not being updated

1.0.9


Update CSIUtil.DLL library file to allow custom connection string

1.0.8


Miscellaneous fixes

1.0.7


Fix installer issue with ASIUtil.DLL file

1.0.6


Fix login issue with ADODB assembly requirement


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