How You Import Descriptive Flexfields

You can import descriptive flexfields from your source file using import maps. You add your source file that has the descriptive field details to the import map and then create a mapping with the master data.

You define mappings for flexfields in the Source Data table on the Create Import Map or the Edit Import Map page. You can access this page from the Manage Import Maps task in the Product Information Management work area.

You can import descriptive flexfield data related to these entities:

  • Item

  • Item Revision

  • Item Relationship

  • Trading Partner Item

  • Attachment

  • Structure

Each of these entities have an attribute group named Additional Attributes that holds the descriptive flexfield data. You can map these descriptive flexfields with the source file to create an import map, and then import the data.

Here's some additional information for Item Relationship, Trading Partner Item, and Structure master attributes:

  • For the Item Relationship entity, you can define descriptive fields in the Additional Attributes attribute group. Within Additional Attributes, you have the Entity attribute where you specify that the descriptive flexfields belong to which relationship type, such as Related Item, GTIN and Cross-Reference.

  • For the Trading Partner Item entity, you can define the descriptive flexfields for TPI and TPI Relationship in the Additional Attributes attribute group. Within Additional Attributes, you have the Entity attribute where you specify that the descriptive flexfields belong to which TPI or TPI Relationship type, such as MPN, Supplier Item, Customer Item, and Competitor Item.

    You import TPI Relationships by mapping item attributes in the Item entity, and by mapping TPI attributes in the Trading Partner Item entity. In addition to these, if you also map the descriptive flexfields in Additional Attributes, then the descriptive flexfield is imported as TPI Relationship descriptive flexfield (not as TPI descriptive flexfield).

    Also, you import TPIs by mapping only the TPI attributes in the Trading Partner Item entity. In addition to these, if you map the descriptive flexfields in Additional Attributes, then the descriptive flexfield is imported as TPI descriptive flexfield (not as TPI Relationship descriptive flexfield).

  • For the Structure entity, you can define the descriptive flexfields for Structure Header, Component, Substitute, and Reference Designator in the Additional Attributes attribute group. Within Additional Attributes, you have the Entity attribute where you specify that the descriptive flexfields belong to which Structure entity: Item Structure, Component, Substitute or Reference Designator.