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?

[Adam Stout]

Instead of doing direct XML imports of the data, can you do an XML Import Set and transform map?   That should give you control of those dates.

[kimfranz]

Thanks Adam, I'll have to read up on that. I do know that this activity is being performed in the times when keeping the sys_id of the record intact between instances is important. We already do .xlsx templates and transform maps for a great deal of different types of data when it is not important to keep sys_ids in sync or we are assigning instance specific unique identifiers via the Transform map and xml import is not advised.

[Adam Stout]

To retain the sys_id in a transform map (from an XML import or other), see this example:

Add onBefore scripts to the transform map

The transform map gives you all the control over what to load or not.

[kimfranz]

Thanks Adam! I'll make this recommendation.

[Aditya Telideva]

As suggested above, if u were you i will perform the below:

Create one onBefore transform map script to copy the sys_id of new records from the source to the target instance. Create a second onBefore transform map script to identify records on the target instance that have the same unique values but different sys_id values.

1. Open the table transform map record you just created.
2. In the Transform Scripts related list, click New.
3. In the When field, select onBefore.
4. Enter the following Script:

   if (action   == "insert" ) {target. setNewGuid (source. u_sys_id ) ; }

5. Click Submit.
6. In the Transform Scripts related list, click New.
7. In the When field, select onBefore.
8. Enter the following Script:

   /** * This script queries for a uniquely identifying value of the referenced record and then * updates the target reference field with the sys_id of the matching target record. * This sample assumes: * 1) The target table contains an assigned_to field which is a reference field. * 2) The reference field references the User [sys_user] table. * 3) You can use the email field to uniquely identify users. Alternatively you *       could use the user_name field. */ var ref = new GlideRecord("sys_user"); //Replace sys_user with any reference table ref.addQuery("email", source.email); //Replace email with any unique field ref.query(); if(ref.next()){ target.assigned_to = ref.sys_id; //Replace assigned_to with any reference field }

9. Click Submit.