Import dictionary entries

You can import dictionary entries from Microsoft Excel files (XLS or XLSX) to add multiple entries at once or to update existing entries. The import can't be used to delete existing entries from the dictionary.

In a workspace, it's not possible to perform multiple imports simultaneously. If you start an import while another user is running one, the import tool shows a message and you have to wait until the other import is finished.

Below is an example of an Excel file which contains dictionary entries:

For the Excel file structure, the following applies:

Spreadsheet	A spreadsheet can contain entries for only one category of the dictionary, no matter if main or subcategory. This means that for each dictionary category, you must import the entries individually. If a file has multiple spreadsheets, all of them need at least a header column.
Column header	The column header contains the dictionary attributes. You can choose any name for the headers, as for the import you map the columns to the dictionary attributes in SAP Signavio Process Manager. If your dictionary entries are multilingual, we recommend to add language codes to all column headers as language codes make the mapping easier for you. The import tool interprets the first row with text as the header. You must start your dictionary file with the first column and fill in at least three columns. If you fill fewer columns with a header or have empty columns in between, the import fails.
Rows	Rows contain the actual dictionary entries and the information you want to add, for example descriptions or statuses.

You can either create such a file or you export available dictionary entries and use the export file as a template. Read more about exporting dictionary entries in the section Export dictionary entries.

To import dictionary entries, follow these steps:

1. In the explorer, click Dictionary.

2. Click Import / Export > Import Excel.

   The Import Excel dialog opens.

3. Click Choose File.

4. Select the file you want to import from the file selection dialog and click Open.

5. Click Import.

   The import mapping dialog opens.
   

6. In the first section, select an import mode:

   • Update existing entries only, ignore other rows

   • Create new entries for all rows

   • Update existing entries and create new ones

7. In the second section, select the spreadsheet you want to import and the dictionary category.

8. In the third section, which is active when updating entries, map the Excel column and the dictionary entry attribute, which are used to identify existing entries.
   

9. In the fourth section, map the file headers with the dictionary attributes.

10. Click Import.
    When all entries are imported, you are prompted with a summary including a download link to the imported Excel file, which additionally contains the import details. Open this file to verify the changes made by the import. Once you have closed this prompt, the import of dictionary entries completes.

Next steps

• Export dictionary entries