Brief summary of this article:
Importing is one of the several ways of creating and updating data in your Targetprocess system. It is possible to add and modify multiple entities such as work items, containers, and user accounts one by one or on a large number of them at once.
You'll probably need to import data into Targetprocess according to the following most common scenarios:
- Add users and requesters
- Create entities from lists
- Create entities from hierarchical structures
- Migrate data from other system or Targetprocess account
- Batch modify fields and properties of existing entities
- Export data, make changes, and import updates back
- Copy projects wholly or partially
- Automate creation of recurrent work items
- Convert entities
Imports in Targetprocess can be done within CSV files and Quick Add Several Work Items Mashup. Batch modification of entities can be performed within Batch Actions, Drag-n-drop Cards in Batches on Board and Roadmap views. REST API queries support scripting and two-way integration with external editors and tools. We recommend choosing the most efficient way depending on the structure of data you have and the action you want to perform.
Add users
Create user accounts in your Targetprocess system so that your colleagues could log in to the secure common data space, get access to the shared projects and teams and collaborate with each other. New users are added to your common company account (that is, your Targetprocess site) by Administrators and team managers. Users are not allowed to sign up on the company site themselves. Features such as Invite people, Quick Add Several Items, Just-in-Time Provisioning for SSO, Import from a CSV file, and REST API allow bulk creation of multiple user accounts at one time.
More information: How to Add Users
Add Service Desk Requesters
Create Requesters accounts for Service Desk portal integrated with your Targetprocess system so that your clients and stakeholders could log in to the secure data space, get access to their requests, view details about related backlog items, submit new comments and tickets.
More information: Import Requesters from CSV file
Create entities from lists
It is possible to batch create new Targetprocess entities (User Stories, Tasks, Bugs, Features, Epics, Requests) using lists extracted from CSV data files. Within import you can set fields and properties of entities such as states, business values, custom field values, assigned tags, estimated effort, assigned users and teams.
More information:
- Entities and Fields Supported for Import from CSV Files
- Create New Entities within Import from CSV files
Create entities from hierarchical structures
When you import related entities such as Epics, Features, User Stories, and Tasks into your backlog all at once, it is possible to import the hierarchical links between them as well.
It is also possible to import the following dependencies:
- Assignable work items > Teams, Releases, Sprints (Iterations), Team Iterations
- Test Cases and Test Steps > Test Plans
- Impediments > Assignable work items
- Requesters > Requests
- Requests > Companies
More information:
Migrate data from other system
If you’re moving data to Targetprocess from any other project management system, it is possible to import plain and hierarchical backlogs, preserve or map multiple fields and properties such as states, business values, custom field values, assigned tags, estimated effort, assigned users and teams. Most likely you would require to keep origin creation dates and create hyperlinks to origin work items. Import from CSV files is recommended method to complete the migration.
More information: How to migrate or import data to Targetprocess from other project management systems
Batch modify fields and properties of existing entities
It is possible to batch update existing Targetprocess entities (User Stories, Tasks, Bugs, Features, Epics, Portfolio Epics, Requests) using lists extracted from CSV data files. You can batch change states, business values, custom field values, add or change assigned tags, estimated effort, assign users and teams.
You can create a source CSV file manually. Alternative option to generate the file is to use Export to CSV file action in Targetprocess.
Export data, make changes, and import updates back
Export the CSV data file from Targetprocess. More infromation on this: How to export data into CSV file
Once you got the file, you can open it in external editor, make changes, save it, and import updates back to Targetprocess. Map only columns you'd like to update, Skip all the columns you'd like to preserve.
More information: Update Existing Entities within Import from CSV files
Convert Entities using Export & Import Actions
Additionally, you can perform entity types conversion. Say, to convert User Stories to Features, Epics to Releases, and vice versa, you would export list of origin entities from your system to a CSV file. Adjust the columns in the file, for instance, change values in "Entity Type" column properly. And then import the file back so that new entities of the target type are created from the same CSV file. Reassign related entities manually from old items to new ones and then delete old items from your system.
Copy projects wholly or partially
It may happen that your team starts to work on the projects with same set of tasks on a regular basis. In this case it would be helpful to have the capability to clone or duplicate whole project or selected sub-set of its work items. Clone Action for Projects and Project Templates are not supported in Targetprocess so far. In the meantime, Import from CSV files is one of the workarounds that could save your time and speed up copying of projects.
More information:
Automate creation of recurrent work items
It may happen that some tasks occur in your project on a regular basis, such as weekly or monthly. Recurrent tasks are not yet supported in Targetprocess. In the meantime, Importing from CSV files is one of the workarounds that could save you time and speed up the creation of repetitive tasks and other work items.
More information:
Migrating data across Targetprocess accounts
Due to internal reorganization, you may sometimes need to split your Targetprocess instance into two independent sites. Exporting and importing via CSV files is one of the methods that can help you complete this migration.
More information:
If you are a paying Targetprocess customer, you have an alternative option. Our support team can assist you with batch data transfers across hosted accounts.
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