Infor SyteLine3 min readNetray Engineering TeamUpdated March 4, 2025

How to Configure SyteLine Data Import Utility

SyteLine's Data Import Utility provides a structured way to bulk load data from external sources such as CSV files, Excel spreadsheets, and legacy ERP systems. The utility leverages IDO-based validation to ensure imported data meets business rules before committing to the database. This guide covers template creation, field mapping, validation configuration, and scheduling for automated recurring imports.

Creating Import Templates and Field Mappings

Navigate to System Administration > Data Import > Import Templates to create new import configurations. Each template targets a specific SyteLine IDO such as SLItems for item master, SLCustomers for customer records, or SLBOMs for bill of materials. Define column mappings between your source file and the IDO properties using the Column Mapping grid. The SLImportTemplates table stores all template definitions with their associated field mappings, transformation rules, and default values for optional fields.

Select the target IDO from the dropdown list and the utility auto-populates available properties for mapping
Map required fields first (marked with asterisk) including Item, Description, UOM, and ProductCode for item imports
Configure default values for unmapped optional fields such as PlannerCode, BuyerCode, and ABCCode in the Defaults tab
Save template configurations for reuse across multiple import cycles with version tracking in the template header

Configuring Validation and Transformation Rules

The Data Import Utility runs IDO-level validation on each record before committing to the database. Navigate to Import Templates > Validation Rules to configure pre-import checks. Common validations include duplicate detection on key fields, referential integrity checks against existing master data, and data type conversions. The utility supports transformation expressions for reformatting dates, trimming whitespace, concatenating fields, and applying lookup translations from code tables stored in the SLCodeDefinitions table.

Enable duplicate checking on primary key fields to prevent creating redundant item, customer, or vendor records
Configure referential integrity validation to verify warehouse codes exist in SLWarehouses before importing inventory
Set up date format transformation rules to convert MM/DD/YYYY source formats to SyteLine's YYYY-MM-DD internal format
Define error handling as Skip Row, Abort Import, or Log and Continue based on validation failure severity

Scheduling and Monitoring Automated Imports

For recurring imports, configure SyteLine background tasks to automate the process. Navigate to System Administration > Background Tasks and create a new task using the SLDataImportProcess task type. Specify the import template, source file path or FTP location, and execution schedule. The task monitors a designated folder for new files matching a defined naming pattern and processes them automatically. Import results are logged to the SLImportLog table with row-level status tracking for successful inserts, updates, and errors.

Schedule imports during off-peak hours (typically 2:00-5:00 AM) to minimize database contention and user impact
Configure file monitoring on a shared network folder or SFTP location with filename pattern matching for auto-pickup
Set up email notifications for import completion with summary statistics including records processed, inserted, and failed
Review the Import Log form filtered by template name and date range to audit historical import results and error patterns

Frequently Asked Questions

What file formats does the SyteLine Data Import Utility support?

The Data Import Utility natively supports CSV (comma-separated), TSV (tab-separated), and fixed-width text files. Excel (.xlsx) files can be processed using the Excel Data Import add-on module. For XML data sources, use the XML Data Exchange utility instead. Maximum file size is typically 50MB per import batch, with larger datasets requiring file splitting into 10,000-50,000 row segments.

How many records can be imported in a single batch?

SyteLine can handle import batches of up to 100,000 records per file, though optimal performance is achieved with batches of 5,000-20,000 records. Processing speed averages 200-500 records per minute depending on IDO complexity and validation rules. Item master imports with BOM and routing data are slower at 100-200 records per minute due to multi-table validation requirements.

Can the Data Import Utility update existing records or only create new ones?

The utility supports both insert and update operations. Configure the Import Mode setting to Insert Only, Update Only, or Insert/Update (upsert). In upsert mode, the utility matches on primary key fields and updates existing records while inserting new ones. The Update Only mode requires all records to have matching keys in SyteLine, rejecting any unmatched rows to the error log.

Key Takeaways

1Creating Import Templates and Field Mappings: Navigate to System Administration > Data Import > Import Templates to create new import configurations. Each template targets a specific SyteLine IDO such as SLItems for item master, SLCustomers for customer records, or SLBOMs for bill of materials.
2Configuring Validation and Transformation Rules: The Data Import Utility runs IDO-level validation on each record before committing to the database. Navigate to Import Templates > Validation Rules to configure pre-import checks.
3Scheduling and Monitoring Automated Imports: For recurring imports, configure SyteLine background tasks to automate the process. Navigate to System Administration > Background Tasks and create a new task using the SLDataImportProcess task type.

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