Systems operation, maintenance, and installation projects involve a wide variety of Assets, including physical hardware components that can be in inventory on warehouse shelves, out for repair or deployed in production. A Contract can involve hundreds, if not thousands, of types of material Assets, which can be managed in InfraLink. Asset records can be populated or updated via bulk-data entry using the InfraLink Import feature. 

This article provides guidance on the following topics related to the bulk creation and bulk update of Assets in InfraLink. 

Data File for Assets Creation

For the bulk creation of Assets in InfraLink, the data to be imported must be contained in a properly formatted CSV file.

The following data columns (i.e., column headers) are required and must be populated for each line when creating Assets:

• Action (field value will be “CREATE”)
• Asset Tag or Serial # (for Trackable Assets)
• Owner (for Trackable Assets)
• Model
• Manufacturer
• Location
• Quantity (for Consumable Assets)

Optional Assets data columns may include:

Data File for Assets Update

For the bulk update of Assets in InfraLink, the data to be imported must be contained in a properly formatted CSV file.

The following data columns (i.e., column headers) are required and must be populated for each line when updating existing Assets:

• Action (field value will be “UPDATE”)
• UUID

Optional Assets data columns may include:

* When updating an Asset's Model via bulk import, the Manufacturer column must also be included within the CSV file.

** Updating "Service lifetime" for Trackable Assets will affect a nightly Lifetime Calculation Service (i.e., service hours and %% values of actual vs. expected).

** Updating "Useful lifetime" for both Trackable Assets and Consumable Assets will affect nightly Lifetime Calculation Service (i.e., useful hours and %% values of actual vs. expected).

Note: User should use care when updating Consumable Asset Model properties, as an error in these attributes may obfuscate existing Transaction Records and possibly affect other functionality (e.g., Budgeting, Invoices, etc.):

1. "Measured By" (i.e. Length –> Volume);
2. "SKU Type" (i.e. Box –> Barrel);
3. "Per Package" (number of items in SKU Type)  (i.e. 30 –> 50);
4. "Each" (Units of Measure) (i.e. Litters –> Gallons, Kilogram –> Foot)
   
   
   

Importing Asset Data

Whether you are creating new Assets or updating existing Assets in InfraLink, you will follow these steps for importing the bulk data.

Click on the Main Menu button at the top of the screen. From the “Materials Inventory” section of the Main Menu, select “Spares” or “All Assets” to open the respective Assets view.

Click on the  button at the top of the selected view.

From the Import drop-down menu, select the “Import Assets” option. An “Import Assets” form will pop up.

From the Import Assets form, you will:

1. Use the Choose File button to select the properly formatted CSV file that you have prepared for your bulk data import.
2. Select the target Contracts to associate the new Assets with (for CREATE action only)
3.  Select Default Warehouse Location for the new Assets (for CREATE action only)
4. Select Default Status for new Assets (for CREATE action only)
5. Select a Default Condition for new Assets (for CREATE action only)
6. Effective time for Asset creation or update, if not current date/time
7. Enter a Import queue name, giving the Import a name that describes its action/purpose.

Note: Default values entered in an Import form will be overridden by any explicit value provided within the data file for that same attribute. That is, the form’s default value will only be applied if there is no such value provided for an Asset within the Import data file.

Data File Exceptions and Successful Import

If there are any errors in the Import data file, InfraLink will alert you of these exceptions and reject the entire Import. That is, InfraLink will not partially process an Import.

All exceptions must be corrected in the data file before it can be imported. Correct exceptions in all specified line items and then repeat the Import steps listed above.

If InfraLink identifies no exceptions within the data file, your bulk data will be successfully imported, and InfraLink will return you to the view where you initiated your Import. The view should then include your new or updated records. The Import will also be listed in the Successfully Completed Imports list accessible via the "Show Completed" option under the Import button drop-down menu.