Support for CSV/Excel extractor in Data Platform

[#1]

Included in the 5.5.66 Data Platform patch release is a CSV/Excel extractor that can extract data from a predefined input spreadsheet and convert it into a BDNA consumable zip file.

IMPORTANT: If the running platform is missing Microsoft Office, the Microsoft Access Database Engine driver must be installed on the machine before running this extractor. This driver can be downloaded here. (Install 64-bit)

Use the attached spreadsheet to dump raw data, following these rules:

• Do not change the sheet and column names. The predefined sheet names are System-OS, Software, and Hardware.
• There should not be blank rows between rows containing data.
• The mandatory attribute for all predefined sheets is Resource ID.
•  

 Populating Sheets

	System-OS	Software	Hardware
Required data	System data Operating system data	Add/remove data	Computer system data CPU data
Recommended attributes	Host name Operating System Name Operating System Caption	Display Name Publisher	Device Manufacturer Device Model
Resource IDs	Must not have duplicate Resource IDs.	The same as those in System-OS.	The same as those in System-OS.
Other	System-OS should not be empty. At minimum, the Resource ID column should be populated.	If Software is empty, then no software data will be published.	If Hardware is empty, then no hardware data will be published.

Run the Excel Extractor in Admin Console

1. Click Create Process on the top right of the UI.

2. Under Process Type, select IT Discovery Tool.

3. In IT Discovery Tool > Data Source, upload the XLXS file and click Next. Data Platform will validate using the predefined structure in the attached Excel spreadsheet.

NOTE: If the Excel file does not follow the specified rules, this error message will appear.

4. Click Finish.

Upon successful completion, your new process will be shown on the main screen.

Or select the Excel file from a network or local path

1. Navigate to Create Process and select the IT Discovery Tool.
2. Uncheck Upload local data source.

3. Enter the Excel file location in the Zip Files field

4. Click Test Connection. Data Platform will validate using the predefined structure in the attached Excel spreadsheet.

5. Upon successful validation, the Next button will become available. Click Next, then Finish.

Upon successful completion, your new process will be shown on the main screen.

6. Click Start Process or schedule the process. The Excel extractor process will be finished after clicking Start Process for network or local path selection.

NOTE: Once the normalization process is completed successfully, the zip file will be deleted to conserve space.

[goody612]

Is there an excel template that goes along with this?  I see the document references one, but didn't see it within the zip file.

[JdeGuzman]

Hi @goody612,

We do apologize about the confusion there if it was a little bit unclear. However, when we mentioned a "predefined input spreadsheet", I have confirmed that this is actually a spreadsheet that Customers have to create on their own.

If you do need some guidance, I believe there is details about the requirements within the Word document attached to the Knowledge Base article.

Many thanks,
Andrew

[JdeGuzman]

Hi @goody612,

Our Knowledge Base article has now been updated.

This should now have the input spreadsheet attached to it.

Apologies for the confusion!

Many thanks,
Andrew

[juanr1vargas]

Hello, 

Which template should we use for a csv file ?

Thank you.

[DSood1]

@juanr1vargas  please use the Input_Spreadsheet file in the attached zip as a template.

[juanr1vargas]

Thank you @DSood1,.

I just wanted to be clear since the KB title reference support for CSV extractor, but the template is an excel spreadsheet. The excel spreadsheet contain multiple sheets which it is not possible with a csv file so it may be misleading to say there's support for CSV when that may not be the case. 

Can you clarify for me?

Thank you.