Adding Live Site Devices Using Import

Adding Live Site Devices Using Import

The typical method of adding Devices to a Live Site Plan is to drag and drop each item onto the Plan and update its details. This approach can be fast and easy, especially when using Favorites for consistent and accurate results. However, there may be scenarios in which you want to add Devices based on data from another system, for example. In such cases, you can use SiteOwl’s Import capability to add multiple new items to a Plan using a Comma Separated Values (CSV) file that you've created. This article provides the steps to import Devices to a Live Site, including Secondaries, using a CSV file.
For steps to create Favorites using import, go to: Adding Favorite Devices Using Import

Step 1: Create a Template CSV File

Begin with a template CSV file that includes all the required fields as well as any additional data elements you wish to include in the import. A template CSV can be created in the following ways:

  1. Download this Sample Template to use as a guide. Note that instructional text must be removed from your file before importing. 
  2. Use Excel to create your own CSV import file from scratch.


Step 2: Update the CSV Template with Data to Import

  1. Open the CSV file in Excel and examine the row(s) below the header row. These rows contain any Devices that were already on the Plan. These can remain in the file since the import process will only update these existing Devices, not add new ones. 


    Required Columns
    The following columns must be included when importing Live Devices. A complete list of columns can be found here.
    1. Plan ID: Plan IDs are displayed at the top right of the plan view when viewing a Live Site plan

    2. Device ID: The value you enter here will depend upon whether you intend to also import Secondary Devices for this Device:
      1. Primary Device:
        1. For each Device that will not include Secondaries, enter a value of New.
        2. For each Device that will include Secondaries, enter a unique value containing at least one letter (ex. New 1, New 2, Cam 1, Cam 2).
      2. Secondary Device
        1. For each Secondary Device, enter a value of New. 
    3. Primary Device ID: For each new Secondary Device, enter the Device ID of its Primary Device.
    4. Device Name: Enter a name for this Device. 
    5. System Type: Enter the SiteOwl System Type. A complete list can be found here.
    6. Device Type: Enter the SiteOwl Device Type. A complete can be found here.
  2. You will create one row in the CSV for each Primary Device you want to add to the Plan. Columns can be Required or Optional. Please refer to the rules and allowed values for each column here.
    Note: When creating Secondary Devices using import, the Primary Device row must be placed above the row that will create the Secondary Device.
  3. After you add data to the columns for each new row, your CSV should now look something like the example below. When imported, this CSV will add four Devices to the Plan.

Step 3: Importing

With all the data added to your CSV, you’re ready to add the new Devices by importing them. At this point, ensure that you have saved your changes in Excel. 
  1. On the Live Devices screen, click the Import button at the top right. You’ll be prompted to select the CSV you’ve been editing. After you select it, a Device Import Preview will appear similar to the one below. This one states that there are no issues with the data in the CSV and that 6 devices will be imported. Two of these are the existing Devices, and the other four are the new Devices.


  2. If you have issues that need to be addressed, click Cancel, edit your CSV and then try to import again. When the import has completed, you’ll receive a message like the one below:


  3. The Live Devices screen will update automatically to show the new items.And when you view the Plan, you’ll see your new Devices at the top left of the Plan.

  4. You can now edit the Plan and position the new Devices to their correct locations.

If you have any questions, please contact us at support@siteowl.com


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