Export and Import XML - Date/Time Stamps occur in past

[kimfranz]

When Exporting records via XML from one instance and importing into another instance to preserve sys_ids, the Created and Update Date/Time stamps are identical from the source system. This drives the Reporting people nuts because in Snow Mirror (and the target instance) the date/time stamps are in the past rather than being the actual date/time imported.  

Has any one else run into this concern?

[Michael Ritchie]

This is actually expected behavior.   When you extract a record via XML, the entire record is preserved.   You could run a Fix script against the records after import to set the dates accordingly.

[kimfranz]

Thanks for your speedy reply! I will make this recommendation. As an admin I prefer the imported data to be exactly the same, but yet I get it why the reporting folks find this frustrating when they are trying to sync record counts against dates and times.

[alexchansuthus]

Not recommended, but you can also delete the <sys_created_on></sys_created_on> and <sys_updated_on></sys_updated_on> in the XML file before importing.   ServiceNow will timestamp it to the current date/time on import.  

[kimfranz]

Thank you too for your speedy reply! Since there are multiple persons doing this as implementers (as we are an Managed Service Provider (MSP)), that would be tough to control and enforce. We'd need to do something more automatic with a rule or a system property.

I do appreciate your answer! Thanks!