How to Import Data › How to Import Data › Filter Data in the Import

Filter Data in the Import

You can identify a subset of records in your source data file that you want to exclude from the import. The Data Importer exclusion filter allows you to filter a part of your data source using exclusion filter rules.

Example: Define an exclusion filter to process returned assets

A CSV file that you receive from your hardware vendor includes assets that were ordered and returned to the vendor. You want to process only the returned assets, so you want to import data to update those records only. You define an exclusion filter to exclude records that do not have a status of Returned.

Follow these steps:

1. On the Administration tab, Data Importer page, Exclusion Filter area for a selected import, select the Filter Type.

   And

   Excludes a record from the source data file only if all the rules that you specify are valid for the record.

   Or

   Excludes a record from the source data file if any of the rules that you specify is valid for the record.

2. Click New.
3. Click the Select icon next to Source Field, select a column from your source data file, and click OK.

   Note: The percent signs before and after the column names identify the names as columns from your source data file.

4. Select the Operator.

   Note: To specify "not equal to", select the "<>" operator.

5. Enter a Filter Value for the rule.

   Note: You can use special characters and wildcards in the filter value. The rules can process text, numeric, and date fields.

6. Click the Complete Record Edit icon.
7. (Optional) Click New and specify more exclusion filter rules.
8. Click Save.

   The exclusion filter rules are saved and are applied when the import processes.

Example: Create an Exclusion Filter

Sam performs the following steps to create an exclusion filter. The filter eliminates non-IT employees and employees who do not work at the company headquarters from the data import.

1. Selects And for the Filter Type and clicks New in the Exclusion Filter area of the Import Details page.
2. Selects %Department% for the Source Field.
3. Selects <> for the Operator.
4. Enters IT for the Filter Value.
5. Clicks the Complete Record Edit icon and clicks New.
6. Selects %Location% for the Source Field.
7. Selects <> for the Operator.
8. Enters Headquarters for the Filter Value.
9. Clicks the Complete Record Edit icon and clicks Save.