ServiceNow Data Import Training (Part 10)

Introduction

• Welcome to SAS Word ServiceNow Training, Part 10.
• Training recorded in the Orlando version of ServiceNow.
• Topics covered include data import into ServiceNow, import sets, transform maps, colace fields, and data policies.
• Importance of data import.

Need for Data Import

• Requirement to bulk upload data into ServiceNow to avoid manual creation of records.
• Examples:
  • Import data from Active Directory to user or group tables.
  • Import employee data from HR systems.
  • Import knowledge articles from external systems or documents.
  • Import asset information into asset management or CMDB tables.

Ways of Data Import

1. Import XML

• Used to import XML files for ServiceNow tables.
• Found in the list context menu.
• Typically used by developers/admins to move data between ServiceNow instances.

2. Import via Excel

• Also available in the list context menu.
• Utilizes import sets and transform maps.
• Only Excel files can be imported using this method.
• Option to download a template and update data in ServiceNow.

3. Import Sets

• Core functionality for importing data.
• Used to import data from various sources and map it to ServiceNow tables.
• Admin or import_admin role required.
• Managed through the System Import Sets application.

Import Sets Components

1. Data Source

• Sources from where data is imported e.g., files, LDAP, JDBC connections.

2. Import Set Table

• Staging area for records before insertion or update into target table.
• Named based on the imported file.

3. Transform Map

• Create relationships between source data fields and target table fields.
• Example provided with incident table.

4. Mapping Assists

• Visual way to map fields between source and target data.

5. Coalesce

• Checks for existing records before import:
  • If a match is found, the record is updated.
  • If no match is found, a new record is inserted.

6. Target Table

• The main table where data is ultimately imported.

Import XML Example

• Example provided with exporting and importing records using XML format.

System Import Sets Application

• Overview of features and components e.g., load data, create transform map, run transform, data sources, scheduled imports, import set logs.

Practical Example of Importing Data

• Step-by-step demonstration of creating an Excel file and importing it into a custom table.

1. Loading Data

• Importing the data into a staging table.

2. Creating Transform Map

• Mapping fields between the staging table and target table.

3. Running Transform

• Transforming and inserting data into the target table.

Coalesce Fields Example

• Demonstration of updating existing records using coalesce fields.
• Explanation of how coalesce works and its importance.

Data Policy

Purpose

• Used to enforce mandatory fields and other constraints at the data level.
• Ensures data integrity during import.

Steps

• Creation of a data policy and applying it to import sets to test its functionality.

Conclusion

• Overview of importing data into ServiceNow with different scenarios and functionalities.
• Importance of understanding import sets, transform maps, coalesce fields, and data policies for effective data management.