Importing and Exporting Data From Data Structures

Updated on 28 Aug 2024
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Overview

Data Structures and their data may be transported between environments.

Data can be exported as a dec.obj file via a simple action on the Data Structure itself and then easily imported into another system. Additionally, users may export the data into an Excel file.

Due to the varying complexity of Data structures, it is not advised to import and export all Data Structures the same way. To assist users with these complex structures, users have the option to attach the Data Structure to an existing Project to instead import/export the Project rather than the Data Structure or data itself.

Data Structure Type	Can the data be exported by itself?
Database Structure	No, the data cannot be moved to another server.
Database Structure (Leased)	No, the data cannot be moved to another server.
Entity	Yes
External Entity	Yes, but it is advised to export with the project
Entity Extension	Yes, but it is advised to export with the project
Folder Extension	Yes, but it is advised to export with the project
Flow Execution Extension	Yes, it is advised to export with the project, data can be exported but requires using the save/create step to recreate the proper parameters.
Case Entity	Yes, it is advised to export with the project, data can be exported but requires using the save/create step to recreate the proper parameters.

Binary Serialized Data

Please note that Binary Serialized Data is not supported for exporting within Decisions.

Exporting a Data Structure

Right-click a Data Structure. Navigate to Import/Export > Export.
In the Select Project panel there are two options: Add to Existing Project or Create New Project. Selecting Add to Existing Project prompts the Designer to select an existing project from a drop-down menu while selecting Create New Project then asks for a name for the New Project.
After choosing the Project, select CONTINUE.
In the next panel, select what to include in the download: Item Only, Project with Dependencies, Project. Select CONTINUE.
Select which dependencies to include, select ADD, then choose DOWNLOAD.

Exporting the Data Structure alone will export the file as a decObj. If more than one file is exported, then it will export as a .zip file.

Importing a Data Structure

Right-click a Designer Folder. Then, navigate to Import/Export > Import.
Either click Choose File or drag and drop either the Data Structure or a project containing the data structure.
From the Import Entities panel, select IMPORT
In the Import Summary dialog, confirm the included items to import.
Select COMPLETE IMPORT.

The imported Data Structure will appear in the environment in the folder that the import action was performed on.

Exporting/Importing Data

If a user wishes to Import or Export Data for a database stored data type, they may do so with the Import/Export Data options.

Import/Export Options	Function
Create/Edit Data	Allows the user to create new pieces of data or edit pre-existing data columns.
Export Data To CSV	Exports the data into an Excel spreadsheet.
Import Data From CSV	Imports the data from an Excel spreadsheet into the data type in Decisions

The following example demonstrates the Export Data to CSV and Import Data From CSV options.

Exporting Data

Select a Data Structure then navigate to Import/Export Data > Export Data To CSV.
Select the desired Field Names to be included in the spreadsheet. To select or de-select a field, click on the checkbox beside each of the Existing Entities.
Select Download Existing Entities.
From the Exports panel, select Download Sample/Export File to download pre-existing data to a spreadsheet. If this is not the desired action, or if there was an error in configuration, users may select Close to cancel the export and close out the panel.

Importing Data

Select a Data Structure then navigate to Import/Export Data > Import Data From CSV.
Select the desired Field Names to be included in the spreadsheet. To select or de-select a field, click on the checkbox beside each of the Existing Fields.
Pick Get Sample File or Download Existing Entities: this navigates to the Get Sample screen.
Either import or export a sample file via the buttons on the panel. These buttons function as follows:

Button Name	Button Function
Download Sample/Export File	Downloads a sample file containing pre-existing data pertaining to the Data Structure.
Edit Data	Allows the ability to edit pre-existing stored data for that structure.
Upload File To Import	Navigates to a file uploader allowing the Designer to upload a CSV file containing Database Structure data by either dragging and dropping or manually selecting the file with Choose File.
Import Data	Uploads and imports data from a CSV file to a Data Structure

To import a CSV file, users must first choose a file via Upload File To Import before selecting Import Data. The step will not progress without a selected file.

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Data Extensions

Table of contents

Overview 
Exporting a Data Structure
Importing a Data Structure
Exporting/Importing Data