Best Practices › Guidelines for Customizing Catalog Content › Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The following information provides answers to frequently asked questions and includes instructions for managing your catalog content.

Note: Several questions and answers mention the ixutil utility for importing and exporting catalog entries. For instructions to use the ixutil utility, see the Reference Guide.

How do I modify the catalog content?

You modify catalog content by using the standard Service Builder component of the web browser user interface.

Note: For instructions, see the Administration Guide.

How do I back up, import, and export catalog content?

Back up any customized content you have created, both before and after customizing. Use the ixutil utility to back up the content, to export it from one system, and to import it into another system.

How do I make bulk changes to the catalog content?

You can make bulk changes to the catalog, as follows:

1. Export the catalog folder or service to be changed, using the IXUTIL utility.
2. Edit the exported XML file using a text editor.
3. Delete and reimport the folder into the catalog.

This process works well for simple changes in descriptions and naming conventions. For example, suppose your IT organization is named General Information Services (GIS). In that case, consider a bulk change to replace the word "IT" with "GIS" within the catalog.

If you are not familiar with using a text editor for editing XML files, obtain assistance from an experienced user. Be especially careful to use a text editor like Notepad, not a word processor like Microsoft Word.

Also follow these guidelines:

• Be careful and back up frequently. If referential integrity issues occur, the import process does not always import all content.
• Review the ixutil.log in the %USM_HOME%\logs\install folder after each import. Review it for duplicate name errors and other errors caused by incorrect syntax in the imported data.

How do I copy catalog entries from test catalogs to production catalogs?

Do the following:

1. Use a test catalog to customize the default catalog content.
2. Back up the test catalog.
3. Export the updated catalog content from the test catalog.
4. Import the updated catalog content into your production catalog.

The two entities included in your catalog are the catalog entries themselves and the images and URL links associated with them.

Use the ixutil utility to export the catalog entries from the test catalog and to import them into the production catalog.

The catalog entries include folders, services, service option groups, and service option elements.

Copy the following to the production environment separately: category, class, and subclass definitions (category.xml), images, and status definitions.