Importing New Business Partner Records 

Use

Now that you are familiar with the repository, you can start importing new records. To simulate a real world situation, import XML files were extracted from an SAP CRM system.

You open the MDM Import Manager, review the prepared mapping of the source file to the destination repository and then start the actual import.

Procedure

Start the MDM Import Manager with the sample repository and the import XML file

...

       1.      Start the MDM Import Manager.

       2.      In the initial dialog select the sample repository and enter the login data (user Admin, no password).

       3.      In the next step select type XML Schema, remote system MDC CRM, XML schema SAP MDM Business Partner 5.5.5, and browse for the sample XML file you have downloaded and stored on your local drive.

Review the mapping of fields and values

The MDM Import Manager opens providing a side-by-side view of the structure of the source XML file and the data model of the destination repository.

In the Source Hierarchy pane (upper left) you see the data structure of the incoming data, and in the Destination Hierarchy pane (upper right) you see the structure of the business partner repository. The record details are listed on the Source Preview tab (lower pane).

...

       1.      Choose File ® Open or  and select the map _MDMBusinessPartner.

The predefined map file that maps the source to the destination data structure opens.

       2.      To see the field and value mappings, choose the Map Fields/Values tab.

For example the source field PartnerTypeCode is mapped to the destination field Partner Type.

       3.      To see if keys of the new and the existing records match, choose the Match Records tab.

You only perform import matching to avoid having records with the same keys in the repository. The actual matching (duplicate check) is performed later by the workflow. In the sample data no keys match; the records are therefore newly created during import.

Start the import process

...

       1.      To check if the mapping is complete, switch to the Import Status tab.

If there are no open action items (such as unmapped fields) the status is Ready to Import.

       2.      To start the prepared MDM workflow after import, choose Configuration ® Options. In the Configuration Options dialog Import ® Checkout/Workflow and select Data Import from the dropdown menu. Choose OK.

The simple Data Import workflow matches the imported records against the existing records and passes them for final review. You will learn more about the workflow and the matching process in the following chapter.

       3.      Start the import by choosing Execute Import ( ! exclamation mark).

The import process may take a few seconds. A message informs you about the progress of the import.

       4.      Close the MDM Import Manager.

Result

The new records are imported into the sample repository, added to the existing records and matched by the workflow.