Can any one explain about "Scheduling Data Imports" & "import set" , how it will works?

[chanikya]

1.Can any one explain about "Scheduling Data Imports" in servicenow , how it will works?

2.What is Difference b/w     " Scheduling Data Imports" & "Import sets"     ?

3.when will we use     "Scheduling Data Imports" ???

4.when will we use " import set"

[Johannes Coetse]

Hi Chanikya,

Scheduled imports are used to import data at certain intervals. We make use of several scheduled imports but lets focus on user import.

We pull data from ERP system for all users. If a user changes department or building the daily scheduled import runs, loads the data, creates the import set(collection of data) and then runs the transform updating the user records as it runs. This scheduled import of ours only updates current records and does not insert new users.

Another scheduled import we have runs from Active Directory which actually inserts new users. We do not get all user data from AD so thats why we run different scheduled imports from different sources onto the same user table.

Import sets are automatically generated by either scheduled imports or when manually importing data e.g from the list view.

I suggest you read the Import Sets documentation to understand the relation between Data Sources, Transform Maps and Scheduled Imports.

[chanikya]

Hi Johansses,

So 1. Import sets -   are using for Creating new records , updating existing records using with external filed import . am i right here?

2. Schedule import sets- are using for updating existing records only , not   form external file import, updates should be done only in instance manually   like Dept , cell number , like this cases, am i right here , please le me know if i am thinking in wrong way..

[mohamadcharafed]

Hi Chanikya,

Before i answer you here are some terms :

DataSource - this defines a data source that you want to import from. e.g. LDAP Server, excel file, SFTP etc.

Transform Map - This is linked to the DataSource. it 'transforms' the data after importing and moves it to the target tables e.g. user table, incident table

Import Set - Every time you execute a Data Source, it creates an Import Set. this contains the data that you imported e.g. users from an LDAP server. It also tells you what records were update, how long it took, and any errors or logs

Answers to your questions :

1) Scheduled Data import allows you schedule your import from the DataSource so that you do not need to do it manually. e.g. import LDAP users daily, or import CMDB items from an SFTP server weekly

2) Scheduled Data Import just schedules the execution of a DataSource. An import set is created every time you execute a DataSource Import wether scheduled or executed manually (definition at the top)

3) Scheduled Data imports are for importing data that might change. Companies for example almost always have a daily LDAP user import Scheduled. This is   to import the users so that if anyone leaves the company they are de activated, or if their email/title/groups change they get updated on ServiceNow. Some people use it to also daily import CMDB items from SCCM servers, or import incidents from other systems.

4) An import set is created every time you execute a DataSource. Import sets will show you progress on how many records are being imported. it tells you how many inserts/updates are done on the records. Import Sets are historical data, once an import is complete, you dont really need it anymore except if you want to see what was imported at that time

Regards,

Mohamad

[chanikya]

Hi Mohamad,

Thank you so much .it is   very helpful

Thanks.